FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY   HIM   TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


Section  ^io^fo 


THE    PSx\LMS    AT    WORK. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/psalmsatworkbeinOOmars 


■m^ 


I 


/ 


THE 


PSALMS   AT   WORK 


OCT  24  1932 

Oniric 


THE  ENGLISH  CHURCH  PSALTER,   WITH  A  FEW 

SHORT    NOTES    ON    THE    USE    OF    THE 

PSALMS,  GATHERED  TOGETHER 


^\/ 


CHARLES     L.     M  ARSON 


SECOND  EDITION,  REVISED. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

GEORGE    W.    JACOBS    AND    CO., 

103,  SOUTH   15TH  STREET. 

1895. 


S.  J.  f., 


WITH   AN   OLD    FRIEND  S   GRATEFUL   LOVE. 


PKEFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


Thk  public  and  the  press  have  so  kindly  entertained 
this  little  book  that,  contrary  to  the  expectation  of  the 
compiler,  it  has  been  encored.  It  now  reappears  some- 
what amended  and  a  little  grown  in  stature.  Hence 
the  editor  begs  to  thank  his  many  friends  and  reviewers, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  ask  the  pardon  of  such 
readers  as  have  sent  him  hints  or  material  which  he 
lias  been  unable  to  use.  The  fact  is  that  out  of  a  con- 
siderable mass  of  notes  only  a  few  have  been  selected 
for  publication.  !Mere  citations,  anecdotes  of  private 
and  local  interest  have  been  left  out,  of  set  purpose ; 
so  have  the  too  recondite  instances,  which  might 
indeed  have  helped  the  editor  to  simulate  learning, 
but  would  have  acted  only  as  soporifics  to  the  '  general.' 
Without  doubt  the  warmest  praise  of  the  book  has 
come  from  its  elder  readers,  and  for  these  the  editor 
is  sure  that  it  is  still  entirely  suitable.  He  may  be 
allowed  to  say  this  with  less  immodesty,  because  it 
has  generally  been  found  (upon  inquiry)  that  the  eyes 
of  such  students  did  not  suffer  them  to  read  the  small 
print,  and  that  it  is  to  David  therefore  that  their 
thanks,  and  his,  are  wholly  due. 

1 J6,  Sevmour  Street, 

."ST.  Paxcras,  N.W. 

Fiost  oj'Sl.  Ludo.n,  1S95. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FIRST  EDITION. 


This  little  collection  of  notes  was  gathered  chiefly  in 
the  highways  ;  and  is  meant  to  set  tlie  reader  gathermg 
for  himself.  If  he  does  so,  the  Psalms  will  not  only 
interest  him  more,  but  will  unfold  themselves  to  him 
in  man}^  new  and  deeper  meanings.  The  melody  of 
the  Psalter  will  bo  all  the  sweeter  when  he  hears  it 
harmonized  with  the  music  of  noble  and  varied  human 
life.  Its  greatness  will  be  better  set  forth,  and  its 
beauty  will  be  brought  home  to  him,  not  by  tedious 
homily,  but  by  that  antiphonal  method  which  makes 
a  landscape  seem  doubly  beautiful  when  it  is  reflected 
in  a  clear  lake.  Perhaps  even  a  handful  of  instances 
can  help  one  dinil,\-  to  understand  how  enormously  this 
one  little  book  of  poems  has  affected  the  life  of  man- 
kind ;  and  that,  because  the  Psalmists  have  reached 
the  connnon  bed-rock  of  our  human  nature. 


December,  1803, 

13,  SoHO  SiH'AKi:. 


DAY  1. 
MOENING  PRAYER 

PSALM  I.     Beatus  vir,  qui  non  abiif,  etc. 

BLESSED  is  the  man  that  hath  not  walked  m  the 
counsel  of  the  ungodly,  nor  stood  in  the  way  of 
sinners  :  and  hath  not  sat  in  the  seat  of  the  scornful. 

2  But  his  dehght  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  :  and  in 
his  law  will  he  exercise  himself  day  and  night. 

3  And  he  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  water- 
side :  that  will  bring  forth  his  fruit  in  due  season. 

4  His  leaf  also  shall  not  >vither  :  and  look,  whatso- 
ever he  doeth,  it  shall  prosper. 

5  As  for  the  ungodly,  it  is  not  so  with  them  :  but 
they  are  like  the  chatf,  which  the  wmd  scattereth  away 
from  the  face  of  the  earth. 

6  Therefore  the  ungodly  shall  not  be  able  to  stand  in 
the  judgement  :  neither  the  simiers  in  the  congregation 
of  the  righteous. 

7  But  the  Lord  knoweth  the  way  of  the  righteous  : 
and  the  way  of  the  ungodly  shall  perish. 

This  psalm  is  a  "  short  intro-  by  St.  Gregory  to  St.  Augus- 
duciion"  to  the  whole  book,  as  tine,  that  those  under  the  eccle- 
St.  Basil  calls  it,  and  is  chiefly  siastical  ,rule  should  "sing 
used  as  such.  The  whole  Psalter  psalms  early  and  late"  (a.u. 
is  chanted  through,  with  us  6oi).  At  the  Cloves  Hoo 
monthly,  among  the  Latins  and  Council  (747)  psalmody  is 
Greeks  weekly.  By  many  pious  classed  with  prayer  and  fast- 
souls  (for  instance,  by  St.  Mar-  ing.  By  St.  Dunstan's  canons, 
garet  of  Scotland  and  George  indeed,  infirm  men  might  use 
Herbert)  it  was  recited  once  the  Psalter  instead  of  fasting — 
daily.  The  importance  of  sing-  "200  psalms"  or  the  fine  of  a 
ing  psalms  has  been  insisted  penny  (a  day's  pay)  for  each 
upon  from  the  very  first  in  the  fast-day.  The  working  people 
Church  of  England.  It  is  one  in  the  early  Church  knew  the 
of  the  early  instructions  given  Psalms  so  well,  that  they  could 

I  r- 


Dayi 


PSALM   I 


Morning  Prayer 


and  did  chant  and  hum  them 
in  field  and  house  and  street. 

Our  translation  is,  in  its  base, 
the  joint  work  of  Tyndale  and 
Coverdale,  which  was  made  out 
of  the  Greek,  during  the  sweat- 
ing sickness  at  Antwerp  and  in 
exile.  The  notes  were  erased, 
the  mistakes  corrected,  and  the 
language  improved  by  Cran- 
mer  and  the  bishops,  and  the 
book  set  forth  in  1541.  Bonner 
gave  six-  chained  copies  to  St. 
i'aul's,  which  perished  in  the 
Great  Fire.  The  Bishops'  Bible 
version  was  retained  for  the 
Psalms  partly  because  it  was 
better  known  to  choirs,  partly 
because  it  was  more  rhythmic, 
and  perhaps  partly  because  the 
Puritans  were  militantly  bitter 
against  it  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  The  translators  were 
accustomed  to  the  measured 
roll  of  the  Latin  vtrsion  ;  and 
Bishop  Cosin  -thanks  to  whom 
we  retain  our  Prayer-Hook  ver- 
sion— had  a  fine  ear  for  the  now 


almost  forgotten  art  of  sonorous 
and  organ-like  prose.  The  ver- 
sion was  therefore  started  by 
extreme  Protestants,  revised  by 
bishops,  "mostly  popish,"  de- 
fended and  kept  by  English 
Churchmen  with  almost  unani- 
mous consent,  after  it  had  run 
the  gauntlet  of  the  severest 
criticism. 

Verse  i.  Erasmus  in  1516 
dedicated  his  commentary  on 
this  psalm  to  Beatus  Rhenanus, 
the  corrector  of  Froben's  press, 
whose  character  was  aptly 
described  by  the  text. 

Verse  2.  One  of  St.  Jerome's 
most  favourite  texts;  it  is  woven 
in  and  out  of  his  writings,  and 
he  may  almost  have  been  said 
to  have  moulded  his  life  upon 
it.  Robert  Burton  also  quotes 
it  as  one  of  the  cures  of  melan- 
choly, in  his  "Anatomy"  "that 
maze  of  romedies  for  a  laby- 
rinth of  d,sea3ements,"as  Lamb 
calls  it. 


Litiircrtcal  7(sc. — Introit  to  Mass,  ist  Sunday  in  Advent  (e).*' 
Latins. — Sunday  Matins  ;  Punster  Day  Matins  ;  Martyrs  and 

All  Saints  Matins. 
Greeks. — Saturday  at  Vespers. 


PSALM  II.     Quarefremuerunt  gentes? 

WHY  do  the  heathen  so  furiously  rage  together  : 
and  why  do  the  people  imagine  a  vain  thing  ? 

2  The  kings  of  the  earth  stand  up,  and  the  rulers 
take  counsel  together  :  against  the  Lord,  and  against 
liis  Anointed. 

3  "  Let  us  break  their  bonds  asunder  ;  and  cast  away 
their  cords  from  us." 

4  He  that  dwellcth  in  heaven  shall  laugh  them  to 
scorn  :  the  Lord  shall  have  theiu  in  derision. 

5  Then  shall  he  speak  unto  them  in  his  wrath  :  and 
vex  them  in  his  sore  displeasure. 

(e)  means  in  ihe  first  Prayer-Book  of  EtUvard  VI.,  15^9. 


Morning  Prayer 


I'SALM  II 


Day  I 


6  "Yet  have  I  set  my  King  :  upon  luy  holy  hill  of 
Sion." 

7  "  I  will  preach  the  law,  whereof  the  Lord  hath  said 
unto  me  :  Thou  art  my  Son,  this  day  have  I  begotten 
thee. 

8  "  Desire  of  me,  and  I  shall  give  thee  the  heathen 
for  thine  inheritance  :  and  the  utmost  parts  of  the 
earth  for  thy  possession. 

9  "  Thou  slialt  bruise  them  with  a  rod  of  u-on  :  and 
break  them  m  pieces  like  a  potter's  vessel." 

10  Be  wise  now  therefore,  0  ye  kings  :  be  learned, 
ye  that  are  judges  of  the  earth. 

1 1  IServe  the  Lord  in  fear  :  and  rejoice  unto  him 
with  reverence. 

12  Iviss  the  Son,  lest  he  be  angry,  and  so  ye  perish 
from  the  right  way  :  if  his  wrath  be  kindled,  (yea,  but 
a  little,)  blessed  are  all  they  that  put  their  trust  in 
him. 


This  has  been  from  the  earliest 
days  a  psalm  of  good  heart  in 
hardtimes.  When  the  Apostles, 
SS.  Peter  and  John,  had  drawn 
upon  themselves  the  threats  of 
Jewish  persecution,  by  their  use 
of  that  miracle  done  on  the  lame 
man  at  the  Beautiful  Gate,  they 
heartened  the  little  church  by 
chanting  this  psalm.  It  was 
sung  by  the  Jews  at  the  siege 
of  Jerusalem.  It  inspired  many 
martyrs  ;  it  called  the  people 
to  the  first  Crusade. 

It  was  a  favourite  psalm  of 
Savonarola,  and  he  used  it  on 
two  great  occasions  :  once  to 
cheer  the  Florentines,  when 
they  were  in  fear  at  the  French 
invasion  ;  and  again  (1496)  to 
rally  the  Republic  when  the 
Plague,  the  Pisan  War,  the 
death  of  Piero  Capponi,  and 
the  Imperial  League  seemed  to 
overwhelm  everything,  when 
the  people  were  ' '  furiously 
raging  in  streets,  houses, 
shops,  and  markets"  against 
the  preacher  and  his  followers. 


St.  Athanasius,  in  the  fourth 
century,  had  used  it  as  a  trum- 
pet-call against  the  enemies  of 
the  Faith  ;  and  Luther,  in  the 
sixteenth,  found  consolation  in 
the  notion  that  the  gathering  of 
princes  and  "  rage  of  our  ene- 
mies is  not  aimed  at  us,  but  at 
the  Lord  and  His  Christ." 

Verse  4.  Sir  Thomas  Browne 
with  this  verse  confutes  the 
"  vulgar  error  that  our  Lord 
never  laughed,"  "  nor  need  we 
be  afraid  to  ascribe  that  unto  the 
incarnate  Son,  which  some- 
times is  attributed  to  the  un- 
carnate  Father." 

Verse  7.  St.  Paul  uses  this 
verse  in  his  sermon  at  Antioch 
to  illustrate  his  teaching  that 
the  Godhead  of  Christ  was  part 
of  historical  Jewish  teaching. 
It  is  used  on  the  same  lines  in 
the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  ; 
and  consequently  was  a  Catho- 
lic motto  in  the  Arian,  Socinian 
and  Deist  controversies. 

These  words,  "  I'hou  art," 
etc.,  were  heard  and  a  bright 


Day  I 


PSALM  III 


A  lorn  ins;  Prayer 


light   shone    at    Christ's    bap- 
tism. 

Verse  9.  Not  only  used  in 
the  Revelation  of  St.  John  to 
the  Church  at  Thyatira  ;  of  the 
child  of  the  woman  clothed 
with  tlie  sun  ;  and  of  him  who 
rode  on  the  white  horse  ;  but 
a  constant  answer  of  Church- 
men to  those  who  asserted 
that  the  Faith  had  no  political 
side  to  it,  and  of  Puritans  to 


those  who  doubted  their  right 
to  govern  the  nations. 

Verses  10-12.  Baxter,  preach- 
ing at  Worcester  Cathedral  be- 
fore the  judges  in  1654,  wished 
"  that  each  man  present  could, 
when  he  forgot  Christ,  see 
written  on  the  wall,  '  Kiss  the 
Son,  lest  He  be  angry,  and 
thou  perish, ',and  on  the  tester  of 
his  bed,  as  often  as  he  lay  down 


in  an  unregenerate  state. 
Liturgical  use. — English  proper  psalm  for  Easter  Morning. 
Latins. — Sunday   Matins  ;    Christmas  ;  Circumcision  ;   Good 

Friday  ;  Easter  ;  Martyrs. 
Greeks. — Saturday  at  Vespers. 

PSALM  III.     Domine,  quid  mnltiplicati. 

LORD,  how   are   they  increased   that   trouble   xue : 
many  are  they  that  rise  against  me. 

2  Many  one  there  be  that  say  of  my  soul  :  "  There 
is  no  help  for  him  in  his  God." 

3  But  thou,  O  Lord,  art  my  defender  :  thou  art  mj' 
worship,  and  the  lifter  up  of  my  head. 

4  I  did  call  upon  the  Lord  with  \\\\  voice  :  and  he 
heard  me  out  of  his  holy  hill. 

5  I  laid  me  down  and  slept,  and  rose  up  again  :  for 
the  Lord  sustained  me. 

6  I  will  not  be  afraid  for  ten  thousands  of  the  people  : 
that  have  set  themselves  against  me  round  about. 

7  Up,  Lord,  and  help  me,  O  my  God  :  for  thou 
smitest  all  mme  enemies  upon  the  cheek-bone  ;  thou 
hast  broken  the  teeth  of  the  ungodly. 

8  Salvation  belongeth  unto  the  Lord  :  and  thy  bless- 
ing is  upon  thy  people. 


At  the  Synod  of  Haba  (loio) 
Archbishop  Elphege  ordered 
lliat  in  all  churches,  every  day 
and  at  each  of  the  iiours  of 
prayer,  the  whole  congregation 
should  prostrate  themselves  and 
sing  Domine,  quid  mitltiplicati 
sunt  by  reason  of  the  fury  of 
the  Norsemen. 

This  was  one  of  the  psalms 
appointed  to  be  sung  after  the 


defeat  of  the  Spanish  Armada, 
before  the  extent  of  the  victory 
was  fully  realized,  and  when 
England  was  still  nervous  about 
those  who  had  set  themselves 
against  her.  It  was  one  of  the 
psalms  most  dwelt  upon  by 
Churchmen  in  the  trying  time 
between  the  fall  of  the  Rump 
Parliament  and  the  Restoration 
of  the  English  Church. 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM   IV  Day  \ 

Liturgical  use. — Second  Mass,  Easter  Day  (1549). 

Latins. — Sunday  Matins  ;  Martyrs  ;  the  daily  morning  hymn 

in  monasteries, 
frrtr/'j-.— Saturday  Vespers. 


PSALM  IV.     Gum  invocarem. 

HEAR  me  when  I  call,  0  God  of  my  righteousness  : 
thou  hast  set  me  at  liberty  when  I  was  in  trouble  ; 
have  mercy  upon  me,  and  hearken  unto  my  prayer. 

2  O  ye  sons  of  men,  how  long  will  ye  blaspheme 
mine  honour  :  and  have  such  pleasure  in  vanity,  and 
seek  after  leasing  '? 

3  Know  this  also,  that  the  Lord  hath  chosen  to  him- 
self the  man  that  is  godly  :  when  I  call  upon  the  Lord 
he  will  hear  me. 

4  Stand  in  awe,  and  sin  not  :  commune  with  yoiu- 
own  heart,  and  in  yovn-  chamber,  and  be  still. 

5  Offer  the  sacrifice  of  righteousness  :  and  put  your 
trust  in  the  Lord. 

6  There  be  many  that  say  :  "  Who  \vill  shew  us  any 
good  ?" 

7  Lord,  lift  thou  up  :  the  light  of  thy  countenance 
upon  us. 

8  Thou  hast  put  gladness  in  my  heart  :  since  the 
time  that  their  corn,  and  wine,  and  oil,  increased. 

9  I  will  lay  me  down  in  peace,  and  take  my  rest  : 
for  it  is  thou.  Lord,  only,  that  makest  me  dwell  in 
safety. 

This  is  the  evening  psalm  of  the  subject  is  almost  a  series 

Christendom.  of  sermons,    pleading   against 

St.  Augustine,  made  glad  by  things  which  "  dim  instead  of 

his  conversion  to  the  Catholic  reveal  the  light  of  God's  coun- 

Faith,  wished  the  Manichceans  tenance." 

could  witness  his  delight  as  he  J^erse  9.  St.  Gregory  Nazi- 
read  this  psalm,  and  was  glad  anzen  tells  a  story  of  his  sister, 
at  corn,  wine,  oil,  and  all  such  St.  Gorgonia,  when  she  was 
things  as  they  falsely  thought  dying  :  "  Her  father,  marking 
to  be  "  Satan  in  solution,"  the  her  lips  a  little  to  move,  put 
work,  not  of  God,  but  of  the  his  ear  near  to  (for  his  virtue 
devil.  and     compassion     made     him 

yerse  7.     This  verse  was   a  bold   and   hardy),  and,   listen- 

te.xt   for  Charlemagne,    in   his  ing,  he  heard  it  was  a  verse  of 

struggle    against    images     in  a  psalm   which  she  muttered, 

churches.     His   Capitidare  on  and  such  a  verse  as  was  most 


Day  X  PSALM  V  Montiiig  Prayer 

agreeable  to  such  as  were  de-  rest  :  for  it  is  Thou,  Lord,  only, 

parting,  and  in  her  a  testimony  that     makest      me     dwell    in 

wherewith    she    left    this    life,  safety.'  " 

And   blessed   be    that    person  This  psalm,  used  by  Chris- 

who  yieldeth   up  his  life  with  tians    every   evening    of    their 

those    words    of    hers,    which  lives,   is  naturally  and  beauti- 

were    these  :     '  I   will   lay   me  fully  used  last,  in  the  evening 

down   in  peace,   and  take   my  of  life. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  3rd  Sunday  in  Advent  (e). 
Latins. — Compline  and  the  proper  psalm  for  Easter  Eve. 
Greeks. — Saturday  Vespers  and  late  Evensong. 

PSALM  V,     Verba  men  cmrihiis. 

PONDER  my  words,  0  Lord  :  consider  luy  medita- 
tion. 

2  O  hearken  thou  unto  the  voice  of  my  calhng,  my 
King,  and  my  God  :  for  unto  thee  will  I  make  my 
prayer. 

3  My  voice  shalt  thou  hear  betimes,  0  Lord  :  early 
in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer  unto  thee,  and 
Avill  look  up. 

4  For  thou  art  the  God  that  hast  no  pleasure  in 
wickedness  :  neither  sliall  any  evil  dwell  with  thee. 

5  Such  as  be  foolish  shall  not  stand  in  thy  sight  :  for 
thou  hatest  all  them  that  work  vanity. 

6  Thou  shalt  destroy  them  that  speak  leasing  :  the 
Lord  will  abhor  both  tlie  blood-thirsty  and  deceitful 
man. 

7  But  as  for  me,  I  will  come  into  tliine  house,  even 
upon  the  multitude  of  thy  mercy  :  and  in  thy  fear  will 
I  worship  toward  thy  holy  temple. 

8  Lead  me,  O  Lord,  in  thy  righteousness,  because  of 
mine  eneinies  :  make  thy  way  plain  before  my  face. 

9  For  there  is  no  faithfulness  in  his  mouth  :  their 
inward  parts  are  very  wickedness. 

10  Their  throat  is  an  open  sepulchre  :  thej-  flatter 
with  theu'  tongue. 

1 1  Destroy  thou  them,  O  God ;  let  them  perish 
through  their  own  imaginations  :  cast  them  out  in  the 
multitude  of  their  ungodliness  ;  for  they  have  rebelled 
against  thee. 

12  And  let  all  them  that  put  their  trust  in  thee  re- 
oice  :  they  shall  ever  be   giv'ing  of  thanks,   because 

6 


Evening  Prayer  I'SALM  \'I  Day  i 

thou  defendest  them  :  they  that  love  thy  Name  shall 
be  joyful  m  thee  : 

13  For  thou,  Lord,  wilt  give  thy  blessing  unto  the 
righteous  :  and  with  thy  favourable  kindness  \\ilt  thou 
defend  him  as  with  a  shield. 

This  psalm  is  the  first  of  the  had  Gloria,  and  the  antiphon, 
book  which  conies  into  the  "I  am  the  Resurrection,"  etc. 
Enghsh  Dirge  for  the  Dead,  Prayers  and  the  Grace  con- 
authorized  in  1545.  This  be-  eluded  the  Dirge.  Of  course 
gin  with,  "  In  the  name  of  the  there  were  many  other  Dirges, 
Father,"  etc.  Then  were  said  even  in  England. 
Psalms  cxvi.,  xli. ,  and  cxlvi..  Verse  5.  St.  Athanasius 
without  Gloria.  Then,  after  presses  the  Arians  with  this 
some  versicles  and  prayers,  verse,  to  prove  to  them  that 
came  Psalms  v.,  xxvii.,  and  Wisdom  (or  Christ)  was  of  the 
xlii.,  without  Gloria,  but  with  Divine  Substance,  even  before 
the  antiphon,  "  I  believe  verily  the  Incarnation, 
to  see  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  Verse  8.  The  very  name 
in  the  land  of  the  living."  The  Dirge  (or  Dirige)  is  from  Di- 
three  lessons  followed,  with  rige  in  coHspectu  tuo  viam 
anthems  ;  and  after  them  meant,  the  second  half  of 
Psalm  XXX.,  Isaiah  xxxviii.  this  verse,  the  usual  antiphon 
(10-20),  and  Psalm  Ixxi.    These  in  dirges. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  on  4th  Sunday  in  Advent  (e). 
Latins. — Lauds  on  Monday  :  Martyrs. 
Greeks. — Saturday  Vespers. 


PS.'VLM  VI.     Domiiie,  ne  in  furore. 

OLORD,  rebiike  me  not  m  thine  indignation  :  neither 
chasten  me  m  thy  displeasure. 

2  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  Lord,  for  I  am  weak  :  O 
Lord,  heal  me,  for  my  bones  are  vexed. 

3  My  soul  also  is  sore  troubled  :  but,  Lord,  how  long 
wilt  thou  punish  me  ? 

4  Tin-n  thee,  O  Lord,  and  deliver  my  soul  :  O  save 
me  for  thy  mercy's  sake. 

5  For  in  death  no  man  remembereth  thee  :  and  who 
will  give  thee  thanks  in  the  pit  ? 

6  I  am  wearj'  of  my  groaning ;  every  night  wash  I 
my  bed  :  and  water  luy  couch  with  my  tears. 

7  My  beauty  is  gone  for  very  trouble  :  and  worn 
away  because  of  all  mine  enemies. 


Day  I 


PSALM  VI 


Evening  Prayer 


8  Away  from  me,  all  ye  that  work  vanity  :  for  the 
Lord  hath  heard  the  voice  of  my  weeping. 

9  The  Lord  hath  heard  my  petition  :  the  Lord  will 
receive  my  prayer. 

10  All  mine  enemies  shall  be  confounded,  and  sore 
vexed  :  they  shall  be  tiu'ned  back,  and  put  to  shame 
suddenly. 

Canterbury,  as  he  walked  bare- 
foot in  the  rain  from  St.  Dun- 
stan's  Church  to  the  scene  of 
the  martyrdom.  Bishop  Fisher, 
who  meditated  upon  the  same 
psalm  in  his  lifetime,  preached 
upon  it  at  length  to  the  "  most 
excellent  Princess  Margaret, 
Countess  of  Richmond  and 
Derby,  and  mother  to  our 
Sovereign  Lord  King  Henry 
the  Seventh,"  who  also  much 
delighted  in  these  psalms.  The 
same  psalm  naturally  comforted 
Fisher  in  the  Tower,  and  pre- 
pared him  for  death. 

The  fierce  Catherine  de  Me- 
dici called  it  her  favourite 
psalm. 

Verse  I.  Doniine,  ne  in  furore 
arguasme  is  the  motto  Edward 
III.  chose  for  the  English 
florins  of  1344.  He  was  then 
in  great  commercial  difficulties. 

Verses  2  arid  3  are  inserted 
in  the  pathetic  journal  of  Jane 
Carlyle  (1855),  at  a  time  when 
she  was  so  ill  and  unhappy  that 
"  sleep  has  come  to  look  to  me 
the  highest  virtue  and  the 
greatest  happiness." 

V^erse  3  was  the  usual  ex- 
pression of  Calvin,  when  he 
was  in  any  trouble  of  mind. 

Verse  5.  A  verse  often  used 
to  deepen  men's  horror  of  hell, 
but  St.  Cyprian  gave  it  a 
pleasanter  turn  when  he  made 
it  a  basis  for  readmitting  the 
lapsed  to  communion,  against 
the  Puritan  Novatians.  This 
verse  is  quoted  by  St.  Boniface, 


The  penitential  psalms  are 
vi. ,  x.xxii.,  xxxviii.,  li.,  cii., 
cxxx.,  and  cxliii. 

The  beautiful  petition  in  our 
Litany,  "  Remember  not,  Lord, 
our  offences,  nor  the  offences 
of  our  forefathers  .  .  .  forever," 
was  usually  sung  as  an  anti- 
phon  before  and  after  these 
psalms.  By  these,  "  the  Seven 
Psalms,"  as  they  were  called, 
has  been  expressed  most  of  the 
lamentation  and  mourning  and 
woe  of  the  Christian  Cliurch. 
Fast  days,  times  of  public 
penance,  times  of  humiliation, 
and  the  like,  have  always  been 
the  fitting  season  for  the  ' '  seven 
sobs,"  as  William  Hunnis, 
chapel-master  to  Queen  EUza- 
beth,  used  to  call  them.  He 
turned  them  into  "  metre,"  as 
was  fashionable  in  his  time — 
very  doggerel  metre,  too — and 
named  them  the  '  'Seven  Sobs  of 
a  sorrowful  Soul  for  Sin."  Each 
of  the  seven  psalms  was  used  in 
the  Middle  Ages  as  a  remedy 
against  one  of  the  seven  deadly 
sins.  This  one  was  ^'contra 
/r(z;«"  (against  Wrath), and  was 
recited  by  many  bearded  lips 
in  penance  for  that  vice,  during 
the  ages  of  wrath,  and  is  still 
used  by  the  pious  of  our  times 
against  their  tamer  angers. 
St.  Ambrose,  who  loved  sim- 
plicity, severity,  and  restraint 
in  poetry,  had  an  especial  love 
of  this  psalm.  Henry  II.  sang 
it,  at  his  penance  for  the 
murder     of    St.    Thomas     of 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  VII  Day  i 

Wilfrid  of  Crediton,  in  his  reminding  them  that  the  aid 
circular  letter  to  the  English,  should  be  sent  "while  it  is 
asking  for  their  help  in  the  day."  The  letter  was  well  re- 
work of  evangelizing  Germany,  sponded  to. 

Litttroical  nse.—'Y\\\s  is  the  first  penitential  psalm,  and  there- 
fore a  proper  psalm  for  Ash  Wednesday.  Introit  for  the 
Ash  Wednesday  Mass  (e). 

Latins. — Sunday  Matins  and  Visitation  of  the  Sick. 

(yrtff/&.— Saturday  Vespers. 

PSALM  VII.     Domine,  Dens  meus. 

OLORD  my  God,  in  thee  have  I  put  my  trust  :  save 
me  from  all  them  that  persecute  me,  and  deliver 
me  ; 

2  Lest  he  devour  my  soul,  like  a  lion,  and  tear  it  in 
pieces  :  while  there  is  none  to  help. 

3  O  Lord  my  God,  if  I  have  done  any  svach  thing  :  or 
if  there  be  any  wickedness  in  my  hands  ; 

4  If  I  have  rewarded  evil  unto  him  that  dealt  friendly 
with  me  :  yea,  I  have  dehvered  him  that  without  any 
cause  is  mine  enemy  ; 

5  Then  let  mine  enemy  persecute  my  soul,  and  take 
me  :  yea,  let  him  tread  my  life  down  upon  the  earth, 
and  lay  mine  honour  in  the  dust. 

6  Stand  up,  O  Lord,  in  thy  wrath,  and  lift  up  thy- 
self, because  of  the  indignation  of  mine  enemies  :  arise 
up  for  me  in  the  judgement  that  thou  hast  commanded. 

7  And  so  shall  the  congregation  of  the  people  come 
about  thee  :  for  their  sakes  therefore  lift  up  thyself 
again. 

8  The  Lord  sliall  judge  the  people ;  give  sentence 
with  me,  O  Lord  :  according  to  my  rigliteousness,  and 
according  to  the  innocency  that  is  in  me. 

9  O  let  the  wickedness  of  the  i;ngodly  come  to  an 
end  :  but  guide  thou  the  just. 

10  For  the  righteous  God  :  trieth  the  very  hearts  and 
reins. 

1 1  My  help  cometh  of  God  :  who  preserveth  them 
that  are  true  of  heart. 

12  God  is  a  righteous  Judge,  strong,  and  patient :  and 
God  is  provoked  every  daj'. 

13  If  a  man  will  not  turn,  he  wUl  whet  his  sword : 
he  hath  bent  his  bow,  and  made  it  ready. 


Day  1  PSALM  VII  Evening  Prayer 

14  He  hath  prepared  for  hun  the  instruments  of 
death  :  he  ordaineth  his  arrows  against  the  persecutors. 

15  Behold,  he  travaileth  with  mischief  :  he  hath  con- 
ceived sorrow,  and  brought  forth  ungodhness. 

16  He  hath  graven  and  digged  up  a  pit  :  and  is 
fallen  himself  into  the  destruction  that  he  made  for 
others. 

1 7  For  his  travail  shall  come  upon  his  own  head : 
and  his  wickedness  shall  fall  on  his  own  pate. 

18  I  will  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  according  to  his 
righteousness  :  and  I  will  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord 
most  High. 

This  psalm  was  a  favourite  says  also  that  anyone  with  his 

with  the  Fifth  Monarchy  men.  five  wits  ought  to  blush  if  he 

Sir  Harry  Vane  uses  it  in  his  does    not    end   his    day    with 

"Valley   of  Jehoshaphat  "    to  psalmody,  for  even  the  tiniest 

support  their  belief  in  an  im-  birds  mark  the  coming  of  both 

mediate  advent  of  Christ  and  night  and  day  with  holy  devout- 

His  Monarchy.  ness  and  sweet  sons;. 

Verses  3  and  4.  St.  Ambrose  Verse  12.  Deux  index  iustus 

comments  on   these  verses,  as  foriis    pattens    is     the    motto 

the   chief  Old   Testament   ex-  chosen    by  Edward   the  Black 

ample  of  the  spirit  of  patience,  Prince  for  the  coins  of  1362. 

expressed  in  a  way  that  both  Verse  16.  This  is  Capgrave's 

foresees    and    anticipates    the  commentary  upon  the  fate  of 

New     Testament    spirit.     He  King  Richard  II. 

Latins. — Matins  on  Sunday. 
Greeks. — Saturday  at  Vespers. 

PSALM  VIII.     Dominc,  Dominus  noster. 

OLORD  our  Governour,  how  excellent  is  thy  Name 
in  all  the   world  :  thou  that  hast   set  thy  glory 
above  the  heavens  1 

2  Out  of  the  mouth  of  very  babes  and  sucklings  hast 
thou  ordamed  strength,  because  of  thine  enemies  :  that 
thou  mightest  still  the  enemy,  and  the  avenger. 

3  For  I  Avill  consider  thy  heavens,  even  the  works  of 
thy  fingers  :  the  moon  and  the  stars,  which  thou  hast 
ordained. 

4  AMiat  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him  :  and 
the  son  of  man,  that  thou  \isitest  him  ? 

5  Thou  madest  liim  lower  than  the  angels  :  to  crown 
him  with  glory  and  worship. 


Morning  Prayer 


PSALM  VllI 


Day  2 


6  Thou  makest  him  to  have  dominion  of  the  works 
of  thy  hands  :  and  thou  hast  put  all  things  in  subjection 
under  his  feet  : 

7  All  sheep  and  oxen  :  yea,  and  the  beasts  of  the 
field; 

8  The  fowls  of  the  air,  and  the  fishes  of  the  sea  :  and 
whatsoever  walketh  through  the  paths  of  the  seas. 

9  0  Lord  our  Governour  :  how  excellent  is  thj'  Name 
in  all  the  world  ! 


St.  Paul  uses  this  whole  psalm 
in  his  great  resurrection  passage 
(i  Cor.  xv.),  the  lesson  which 
has  been  read  at  the  burial  of 
our  fathers  since  1549,  and  will 
probably  be  read  over  our  own 
bodies  ;  and  which  Bishop  Ken 
so  loved  that  his  Greek  Testa- 
ment opens  to  this  day  at  this 
very  passage.  Bishop  Berkeley 
was  also  tulking  to  his  family 
on  the  same  when  he  died. 

Fuller  calls  this  psalm  "  A 
Nocturnal,"  and  says  of  it  : 
"When  I  cannot  sleep,  may  I 
with  this  psalmist  entertain  my 
waking  with  good  thoughts! 
Not  to  use  them  as  opium,  to 
invite  my  corrupt  nature  to 
slumber,  but  to  bolt  out  bad 
thoughts,  which  otherwise 
would  possess  my  soul." 

Verse  2.  This  is  quoted  by 
Christ  against  the  Pharisees  in 
defence  of  the  little  children 
(St.  Matt.  xxi.  16). 

This  was  the  verse  which 
overruled  Bishop  Defensor's 
objections  to  the  election 
of  St.  Martin  at  Tours.  He 
despised  the  saint  for  his  mean 


and  unkempt  appearance.  At 
the  Mass  the  sub-deacon  came 
in  late,  and  could  not  find  the 
Epistle  for  the  day,  so  opened 
a  Psalter  and  read  the  eighth 
psalm.  At  the  words  ' '  Still  the 
enemy  and  avenger  "  (Defen- 
so  rem),  the  people  all  shouted 
together,  and  regarded  it  as  an 
augury  from  Heaven,  and  forth- 
with elected  St.  Martin  to  the 
see. 

Verse  5.  Quoted  by  the  writer 
of  the  Hebrews  in  defence  ot 
our  Lord's  superiority  to  the 
angels  (Heb.  ii.  6-9). 

Gloria  ct  honore  eum  coro- 
nasti  Domifie.  Philip  Howard 
inscribed  these  words  on  the 
mantelpiece  in  his  dungeon, 
June  1587.  He  added,  " /;/ 
memoria  cBterna  erit  Justus." 
He  died  in  1597,  having  been 
kept  a  prisoner  in  the  Tower  for 
his  zeal  in  the  Roman  Catholic 
cause. 

Verse  6.  The  motto  of  the 
Butcher's  Company  is  Omnia 
subjecisti  sub  pedibus,  oves  et 
boves. 


Liturgical  use. — First   psalm  for  .Ascension  Day  at  Matins. 

Introit  for  2nd  Mass  on  Christmas  morning  (e). 
ZL(7/2>/.f.— Ascension    Day  :    Adult    Biptism  ;    Martyrs  ;    Our 

Lady  ;  All  Saints  and  Trinity-tide. 
Greelis.  — Saturday  evening. 


Day  2  PSALM  IX  Morning  Prayer 

PSALM  IX.     Confitebor  tiU. 

I  WILL  give  thanks  unto  thee,  0  Lord,  with  my  whole 
heart  :  I  will  speak  of  all  thy  marvellous  works. 

2  I  will  be  glad,  and  rejoice  in  thee  :  yea,  my  songs 
wiU  I  make  of  thy  Name,  O  thou  most  Highest. 

3  While  mine  enemies  are  driven  back  :  they  shall 
fall  and  perish  at  thy  presence. 

4  For  thou  hast  maintained  my  right  and  my  cause  : 
thou  art  set  in  the  throne  that  judgest  right. 

5  Thou  hast  rebulied  the  heathen,  and  destroyed  the 
ungodly  :  thou  hast  put  out  their  name  for  ever  and 
ever, 

6  0  thou  enemy,  destructions  are  come  to  a  perpetual 
end  :  even  as  the  cities  which  thou  hast  destroyed  ; 
their  memorial  is  perished  with  them. 

7  But  the  Lord  shall  endure  for  ever  :  he  hath  also 
prepared  his  seat  for  judgement. 

8  For  he  shall  judge  the  world  in  righteousness  :  and 
minister  true  judgement  unto  the  people. 

9  The  Lord  also  will  be  a  defence  for  the  oppressed  : 
even  a  refuge  in  due  time  of  trouble. 

10  And  they  that  know  thy  Name  will  put  their 
trust  in  thee  :  for  thou.  Lord,  hast  never  failed  them 
that  seek  thee. 

1 1  0  praise  the  Lord  which  dwelleth  in  Sion  :  shew 
the  people  of  his  doings. 

12  For,  when  he  maketh  inquisition  for  blood,  he 
remembereth  them  :  and  forgetteth  not  the  complaint 
of  the  poor. 

13  "Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  Lord;  consider  the 
trouble  which  I  suffer  of  them  that  hate  me  :  thou  that 
liftest  me  up  from  the  gates  of  death. 

14  "  That  I  may  shew  all  thy  praises  within  the  ports 
of  the  daughter  of  Sion  :  I  wUl  rejoice  in  thy  salvation." 

1 5  Tlie  heathen  are  sunk  down  in  the  pit  that  thej' 
made  :  in  the  same  net  which  they  hid  privily,  is  their 
foot  taken. 

16  The  Lord  is  known  to  execute  judgement:  the 
ungodly  is  trapped  in  the  work  of  his  own  hands. 

1 7  The  wicked  shall  be  turned  into  hell :  and  all  the 
people  tliat  forget  God. 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  X  D.iy  2 

18  For  the  poor  shall  not  ahvays  be  forgotten  :  the 
patient  abiding  of  the  meek  shall  not  perish  for  ever. 

19  Up,  Lord,  and  let  not  man  have  the  upper  hand : 
let  the  heathen  be  judged  in  thy  sight. 

20  Put  them  m  fear,  0  Lord  :  that  the  heathen  may 
know  themselves  to  be  but  men. 

Psalms  ix.  and  x.  are  united  no  real  power  at  all  over  us,  and 

in  the  Vulgate.  that    many  so-called  struggles 

Psalms     ix. ,     x. ,     and      xi.  with  the  devil  are  but  our  own 

were  said  as  the  proper  psalms  disorders. 

for  King  Charles  the  Martyr,         Verse  10.   Dante  quotes  this 

on    the    morning    of   January  to  St.  James  in  Paradise. 
30th.  Verse  II.  This  verse  stirred 

Verse    5.     In     one    of    St.  up    De   B^rulle   to   found   the 

Anthony's  sermons  there  is  a  Oratorian  order, 
curious   tale   of   how    a    huge         Verse    12.      Poor    little    old 

phantom  came  and  complained  Bishop  Laud  quoted  this  verse 

that  he,  the  devil,  was  abused  in  his  last  speech  upon  the  scaf- 

overmuch  by  monks,  and  un-  fold  on  Tower  Hill,  January  10, 

justly,  for  that  Christ  had  made  1644.      He  read  his  speech  with 

him  weak,  rebuked,  destroyed,  his  clear  eye,  and  his  face  so 

and  "his  name  was  put  out,"  ruddy,  that  his  enemies  falsely 

for  the  world  was  being  filled  declared  he  had  painted  it,  so 

with  the  Gospel.     St.  Anthony  as   not   to   show    fear.     Fuller 

agreed  that  he  had  spoken  the  quotes   of    him:    "He    pluckt 

truth   for   once,   and    told   his  down    Puritans  and    Property, 

hearers    that,    unless    we    co-  to  build  up   Paul's  and  Privi- 

operate  with  the  devil,  he  has  lege." 

Latins. — Sunday  ATatins. 
Greeks. — Sunday  morning. 

PSALM  X.      m  qniJ,  Domine  ? 

T17HY  standest  thou  so  far  off,  O  Lord  :  and  hidest 
Y  T       thy  face  in  the  needful  time  of  trouble  '? 

2  The  ungodly  for  his  own  lust  doth  persecute  the 
poor  :  let  them  be  taken  in  the  crafty  wiliness  that  they 
have  imagined. 

3  For  the  ungodly  hath  made  boast  of  his  own  heart's 
desire  :  and  speaketh  good  of  the  covetous,  whom  God 
abhorreth. 

4  The  ungodly  is  so  proud,  that  he  careth  not  for 
God  :  neither  is  God  in  all  his  thoughts. 

5  His  ways  are  always  grievous  :  thy  judgements  are 
far  above  out  of  his  sight,  and  therefore  defieth  he  all 
his  enemies. 

13 


Day  2  PSALM  X  Morning  Prayer 

6  For  he  hath  said  in  his  heart,  "Tush,  I  shall  never 
be  cast  down  :  there  shall  no  harm  happen  unto  lue." 

7  His  mouth  is  full  of  cm'sing,  •  deceit,  and  fraud  : 
under  his  tongue  is  ungodliness  and  vanity. 

8  He  sitteth  lurking  in  the  thievish  corners  of  the 
streets  :  and  privily  in  his  lui'king  dens  doth  he  murder 
the  innocent ;  his  eyes  are  set  against  the  poor. 

9  For  he  lieth  waiting  secretly,  even  as  a  lion  lurketh 
he  in  his  den  :  that  he  may  ravish  the  poor. 

[o  He  doth  ravish  the  poor  :  when  he  getteth  him 
into  his  net. 

1 1  He  falleth  down  and  humbleth  himself  :  that  the 
congregation  of  the  poor  may  fall  into  the  liands  of  his 
captams. 

12  He  hath  said  in  his  heart,  "  Tush,  God  hath  for- 
gotten :  he  hideth  away  his  face,  and  he  will  never  see  it." 

13  Ai-ise,  O  Lord  God,  and  lift  up  thine  hand  :  for- 
get not  the  poor. 

1 4  Wherefore  should  the  wicked  blaspheme  God : 
while  he  doth  say  in  his  heart,  "  Tush,  thou  God  carest 
not  for  it." 

1 5  Surely  thou  hast  seen  it :  for  thou  beholdest  un- 
godliness and  wrong. 

16  That  thou  mayest  take  the  matter  into  thine 
hand  :  the  poor  committeth  himself  unto  thee  ;  for 
thou  art  the  helper  of  the  friendless. 

17  Break  thou  the  power  of  the  ungodly  and 
malicious  :  take  away  his  ungodhness,  and  thou  shalt 
find  none. 

1 8  The  Lord  is  King  for  ever  and  ever :  and  the 
heathen  are  perished  out  of  the  land. 

19  Lord,  thou  hast  heard  the  desire  of  the  poor  :  thou 
preparest  their  heart,  and  thine  ear  hearkeneth  thereto. 

20  To  help  the  poor  and  fatherless  unto  their  right : 
tliat  the  man  of  tlie  earth  be  no  more  exalted  against 
them. 

Sir  riiilip  Sidney's  rendering  For  of  them  in  Thine  hands 

of  part  of  this  psalm  is  worth  The  balance  cv'nly  stands  : 

contrasting  with  some  others,  But  who  aright  poor  minded 
which  do  not  "  carve  and  polish  be, 

the  edges  of  the  text,  axe-hewn  Commit   their  cause — them- 
in  the  Hebrew.  "  selves— to  Thee,  [less, 
"  But  nak'd  before  Thine  eyes  The  Succour  of  the  succour- 
All  wrong  and  mischief  lies,  The  Father  of  the  fatherless.  " 

14 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  XI  Day  2 

Here  is  Waddell's  racy  ver-  Thou  in  Thy  righteous  judg- 

sion  :  "Ye  hae  seen  't  yersel :  ment  weigh'st 

for  yersel  can  baiih  cark  and  The  fatherless  and  poor." 

care,  till  tak  a'  i'  yer  han'.    Till  This  is  botli  the  hardest  psalm 

yersel  the  puir  man  lenks  an'  for     medireval    commentators 

lippens  :  the  frien'  o'  the  faither-  and    for    modern    critics  ;     its 

less  yerlane  are  Thou."  prophetic  darkness  puzzled  the 

Here    is   Tate  and    Brady's  one  and  its  title  the  others, 

poor  bald  rendering  :  Verse  20.  This  verse  inspired 

"Thou  dost  the  humble  sup-  St.  Huijh  of  Lincoln  to  rebuke 

pliants  hear  and  defy  Jordan  of  the  Tower, 

That  to  Thy  throne  repair,  a  powerful  Londoner,  who  had 

Thou    first    prepares!    their  wronged  two  orphan  children, 

hearts  to  pray,  and  threatened  violence  to  all 

And     then     accept'st     their  who  opposed  him. 
prayer. 

The  Latins  make  it  a  part  of  Psalm  ix.,  and  use  it  at  Matins 

on  Sundays. 
Greeks. — On  Sunday  morning. 

PSALM  XI.     In  Domino  confido. 

IN  the  Lord  put  I  my  trust  :  how  say  ye  then  to  my 
soul,  that  she  should  Hee  as  a  bu'd  unto  the  hill  ? 

2  For  lo,  the  ungodly  bend  then'  bow,  and  make 
ready  their  arrows  withui  the  quiver  :  that  they  may 
privily  shoot  at  them  which  are  true  of  heart. 

3  For  the  foundations  ^vill  be  cast  down  :  and  what 
hath  the  righteous  done  ? 

4  The  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple  :  the  Lord's  seat  is 
in  heaven. 

5  His  eyes  consider  the  poor  :  and  his  eye-hds  try 
the  chUdi'en  of  men. 

6  The  Lord  alloweth  the  righteous  :  but  the  ungodly, 
and  him  that  delighteth  in  wickedness,  doth  his  soul 
abhor. 

7  Upon  the  ungodly  he  shall  rain  snares,  fire  and 
brimstone,  storm  and  tempest  :  this  shall  be  their  por- 
tion to  drmk. 

8  For  the  righteous  Lord  loveth  righteousness  :  his 
countenance  shall  behold  the  thing  that  is  just. 

This   is   one   of  the   psalms  manifestoes.     The  next  psalm 

which  helped   the  Abolitionist  was  similarly  used, 
movement  in  America.     Verse         Verse  8.    Charles,    King  of 

8   is   quoted    in    one   of    Pre-  Navarre,  "the  bad,"  preached 

sident     Lincoln's     anti-slavery  a   sermon   to  the  Parisians  in 

15 


Day  2.  PSALM   XII  Evening  Prayer 

1357,  after  Poictiers,  from  this  them,    so    that    his    audience 

text.     He  stood  on  a  kind  of  wept.      He    thus    crept     into 

platform  outside  St.  Germain's  the  hearts  of  the  men  of  Paris, 

Abbey,   and   spoke   eloquently  who,  under   Marcel,    favoured 

of    the   woes    and    wrongs   of  him    in   the   Civil  War  which 

France,  and  his  desire  to  right  followed. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  Mass  of  St.  John,  Evangelist  (e). 
Latins. — Sunday  Matins  ;  Matins  of  Martyrs. 
Greeks. — Sunday  morning. 


PSALM  XII.     Salvummefac. 

HELP  me,  Lord,  for  there  is  not  one  godly  man 
left  :  for  the  faithful  are  minished  from  among 
the  children  of  men. 

2  They  talk  of  vanity  every  one  with  his  neighbour  : 
they  do  but  flatter  with  their  lips,  and  dissemble  in 
then-  double  heart. 

3  The  Lord  shall  root  out  all  deceitful  lips  :  and  the 
tongue  that  speaketh  proud  things ; 

4  Which  have  said,  "  With  our  tongue  will  we  pre- 
vail :  we  are  they  that  ought  to  speak  ;  who  is  lord 
over  us  ?" 

5  Now  for  the  comfortless  troubles'  sake  of  the 
needy  :  and  because  of  the  deep  sighing  of  the  poor  ; 

6  "  I  will  up,"  saith  the  Lord  :  "  and  will  help  every 
one  from  him  that  swelleth  against  him,  and  will  set 
him  at  rest." 

7  The  words  of  the  Lord  are  pure  words  :  even  as 
the  silver,  which  from  the  earth  is  tried,  and  purified 
seven  times  in  the  fire. 

8  Thou  shalt  keep  them,  0  Lord  :  thou  shalt  pre- 
serve him  from  this  generation  for  ever. 

9  The  ungodly  walk  on  every  side  :  when  they  are 
exalted,  the  children  of  men  are  put  to  rebuke. 

This   is  the  psalm   used   by  coming  out  of  heaven  with  a 

modern  Jews  at  circumcision.  long   crossed   spear,  which   he 

There   is  an  interesting  old  presents   to   St.    Michael.     He 

picture    of    this    psalm    to   be  falls  upon  a  jeering  and  armed 

found  in  the  Utrecht  Eadwine  crowd    of    knights,    who    are 

and  Harley  psalters.     A  num-  standing      idle      while      some 

her    of    maimed    and    ragged  labourers  grind  a  mill.     At  a 

men   are   singing   it,    and    the  forge   the   words  of  the  Lord 

angels  with   them.      Christ  is  are  being  tried,  and  Ihe  un- 

16 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  XIII  Day  7. 

godly  are  also  going  round  and  said,     'Whoso     offereth      iiie 

round  in  a  profitless  circle  {in  thanks  and  praise,  he  lionourelh 

circiiitu).  me  '  ?    O  that  one  could  have 

St.  Bernard  describes  (and  it  the   open   eyes  which   Elisha's 

was  a   common   belief  ni    liie  prayers   gave    to   his   servant  ! 

Middle  Ages,  derived  from  St.  Without    doubt    such   an   one 

Augustine)    how    "the   angels  would  see  the  Princes  joined  to 

and    the    spirits   of   just    men  them  that  sing  p-alms,  in  the 

made  perfect  cannot  but  join  midst  of   the  damsels   playing 

with  the  Church  on  earth"  in  on  the  timbrels.     He  would  be- 

her  rapture  of  worship,   when  hold  how  carefully,  how  rhyth- 

the   Psalms  are   sung,    "when  mically,  they  join   the  singers, 

hands    smite    the    breast    and  attend  those  who  pray,  supply 

knees    the    floor,    when   altars  those  who  meditate,  help  those 

are  heaped  with  devout  prayers,  whowait.guide  those  who  order 

when  cheeks  are  stained  with  and    arrange.      Well    do     the 

tears,  and  groans  and  sighs  re-  higher  powers  know  their  fel- 

sound  on  all  sides,  when  with  low-citizens  ;   and   when   these 

the  pleading  of  spiritual  songs  possess  their  heritage  of  salva- 

the  roof  shakes  ;   that  is  what  tion,  they  rejoice  lovingly  with 

the  heavenly  citizens  love  best  them,  they  share  their  lot,  they 

to  behold  ;  that  is  the  sweetest  educate,   they  shield,   they  aid 

sight   to   the    King    of    kings,  them    all,    wholly   and    every- 

What  else  did  He  mean  who  where." 

Latins. — Sunday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Sunday  morning. 

PSALM  XIII.     Usque  quo,  Domine  ? 

HOW  long  wilt  thou  forget  me,  O  Lord,  for  ever  : 
how  long  wilt  thou  hide  thy  face  from  me  ? 

2  How  long  shall  I  seek  counsel  in  my  soul,  and  be 
so  vexed  in  my  heart  :  how  long  shall  mine  enemies 
triumph  over  me  ? 

3  Consider,  and  hear  me,  O  Lord,  my  God  :  lighten 
mine  eyes,  that  I  sleep  not  in  death. 

4  Lest  mine  enemy  say,  "  I  have  prevailed  against 
him  "  :  for  if  I  be  cast  down,  they  that  trouble  me  will 
rejoice  at  it. 

5  But  my  trust  is  in  thy  mercy  :  and  my  heart  is 
joyful  in  thy  salvation. 

6  I  will  smg  of  the  Lord,  because  he  hath  dealt  so 
lovingly  with  me  :  yea,  I  will  praise  the  Name  of  the 
Lord  most  Highest. 

A  commendatory  psalm   for    afflictions,"  says  Beza  of  Cal- 

the  dving.  vin,    "he   uttered   no   syllable 

"In   spite   of    his   manifold     save   what    was    worthy   of    a 

17  c 


Day  2  PSALM  XIV  Evening  Prayer 

Christian,   but  just  raised   his  learnt  the  Psalter  by  heart.    He 

eyes  to  heaven  and  said,  Usque  then  returned  to  his  own  people 

quo,  Domine  f    And  even   this  and   professed   his   faith.      He 

was  in  his  mouth  but  a  mark  was  heard  with  fury,  and  first 

of  the  sorrow  he  felt   for  the  thrown  out  of  the  house,  and 

calamitiesof  the  brethren  rather  was   at   last   stoned   to   death, 

than  for  any  of  his  own."  using   the   prayers   of    David: 

J''irrse  2-  St.  Gregory  of  De-  Psalms    xxxi.,    li.,    and    these 

capolis  tells  a  pathetic  story  of  words,  "  Lighten  mine  eyes." 
a  noble  Saracen  who  beheld  the        Illumina  oculos  tneos  begins 

Lamb  of  God  in  a  vision,  and  the   "verses   of  St.   Bernard," 

sought   out    the   Christians   to  which  Cranmer,  Marshall,  and 

"learn  from  them  their  Way.   He  other   reformers   denounce,    as 

was  christened  and  abode  three  so  superstitious  in  use. 
years  at   Decapolis,   where  he 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  ist  Sunday  after  Epiphany  (e). 
Latins. — Sunday  at  Matins. 
Greeks, — Late  Evensong  in  Lent. 

PSALM  XIV.     Dixit  insipiens. 

THE    fool  bath  said  in  his   heart  :  "  There  is  no 
God." 

2  They  are  corrupt,  and  become  abominable  in  their 
doings  :  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no  not  one. 

3  The  Lord  looked  down  from  heaven  upon  the 
children  of  men  :  to  see  if  there  were  any  that  would 
miderstand,  and  seek  after  God. 

4  But  they  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they  are 
altogether  become  abominable  :  there  is  none  that 
doeth  good,  no  not  one. 

5  Then-  tliroat  is  an  open  sepulchre ;  with  their 
tongues  have  they  deceived  :  the  poison  of  asps  is 
under  their  lips. 

6  Their  mouth  is  fuU  of  cursing  and  bitterness  : 
tlieu"  feet  are  swift  to  shed  blood. 

7  Destruction  and  unhappiness  is  m  then-  ways,  and 
the  way  of  peace  have  they  not  known  :  there  is  no 
fear  of  God  before  tlieir  eyes. 

8  Have  they  no  knowledge,  that  they  are  all  such 
workers  of  mischief  :  eating  up  my  people  as  it  were 
bread,  and  call  not  upon  the  Lord  ? 

9  There  were  they  brought  in  great  fear,  even  where 
no  fear  was  :  for  God  is  in  the  generation  of  the 
righteous. 

i8 


Morning  Prayer 


PSALM  XV 


Day-i 


10  As  for  you,  ye  have  made  a  mock  at  the  counsel 
of  the  poor  :  because  he  putteth  his  trust  in  the  Lord. 

1 1  Who  shall  give  salvation  inito  Israel  out  of  Sion  ? 
When  the  Lord  turneth  the  captivity  of  his  people  : 
then  shall  Jacob  rejoice,  and  Israel  shall  be  glad. 

TJiis  psalm  is  quoted  by  I  went  to  London,  where  Dr. 
Bacon  in  his  essay,  "Of  Athe-  Wild  preach'd  the  funeral  ser- 
ism  "  in  the  sense  iliat  the  fool     mon  of  Preaching,   this  being 


"  rather  saith  it  by  rote  to  hini- 
selfe,  as  he  that  would  have 
then    that    he    can    throughly 


the  last  day,  after  which  Crom- 
well's Proclamation  was  to  take 
place,  that  none  of  the  Church 


beleeve  it,  or  be  persuaded  of    of  England  should  dare  either 


it. "  So  the  Meditationes  SacrcB 
on  the  same  subject. 

This  psalm  was  one  in  which 
Queen  Elizabeth  took  a  delight; 
probably  it  expressed  her  view 
of  the  stormy  and  ungodly  age 
in  which  she  lived,  and  also 
promised  better  things  to  come. 
She  put  it  into  verse  and, 
added,  "  Prayse  to  God  "  at  the 
end. 

Verse  ii.  "  The  captivity  of 
Sion,"  a  phrase  much  used  by 
the  persecuted  English  Church- 
men for  the  outlawry  of  our 
liturgy  by  Cromwell.  John 
Evelyn  went  to  church  on 
Christmas  Day,  1652,  and 
wrote  :  "  No  more  nonce  taken 
of  Christmas  Day  in  churches. 


to  preach  or  administer  Sacra- 
ments, teache  schoole,  etc.,  on 
paineof  imprisonment  or  exile. 
So  this  was  the  mournfullest 
day  that  in  my  life  I  had  seene, 
or  the  Church  of  England  her- 
selfe  since  the  Reformation  ;  to 
the  greate  rejoicing  both  of 
Papist  and  Presbyter.  So  pa- 
thetic was  his  discourse,  that 
it  drew  many  teares  from  the 
auditory.  Myself,  wife  and 
some  of  our  family  receiv'd  the 
Communion  ;  God  make  me 
thankful!,  who  hath  hitherto 
provided  for  us  the  food  of  our 
soules  as  well  as  bodies  !  The 
Lord  Jesus  pity  our  distress'd 
Church,  and  bring  back  the 
Captivity  of  Sion  !' 


Latins. — Sunday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Sunday  morning. 


PSALM  XY.     Domine,  qiiis  hahitabit  ? 

LORD,  who  shall  dwell  in  thy  tabernacle  :  or  who 
shall  dwell  upon  thy  holy  hill  ? 

2  Even  he,  that  leadeth  an  uncorrupt  life  :  and  doeth 
the  thing  which  is  right,  and  speaketh  the  truth  from 
his  heart. 

3  He  that  hath  used  no  deceit  in  his  tongue,  nor 
done  evil  to  his  neighbour :  and  hath  not  slandered  his 
neighbour. 

4  He  that  setteth  not  by  himself,  but  is  lowly  in  his 

19 


Days  PSALM  XVI  Morning  Prayer 

own  eyes  :  and  maketh  much  of  them  that  fear  the 
Lord. 

5  He  that  sweareth  unto  his  neighbour,  and  disap- 
pointeth  him  not :  though  it  were  to  his  own  hindrance. 

6  He  that  hath  not  given  his  monej-  upon  usury  :  nor 
taken  reward  against  the  innocent. 

7  Whoso  doeth  these  things  :  shall  never  fail. 

This    has    been    called    the  commentary   therefore   means, 

gentleman's  psalm,   for  it  de-  in  some  sense,  a  rediscovery  of 

scribes  that  character.     It  was  the  use  of  the  Psalter, 
one   of   St.    Basil  the    Great's         Verse  6.  This  verse  is  in  the 

favourites.  forefront    of     the    long     fight 

One  of  the  last  books  Eras-  against  usury  which  the  Church 

mus  wrote  was  a  commentary  has  maintained.     St.  Augustine 

upon  this  psalm,  with  mystical  constantly  appeals  to  it.     The 

interpretations     and     e.xhorta-  Councilof  Cealchythe,  785  A.D., 

lions.     It  was  printed  at  Basle,  instance  it,  and  so  does  every 

1536,   and  was  called,   "Con-  writer  on  the  subject,  down  to 

cerning  the  Purity  of  the  Chris-  the  last  great  battle,  when  in 

tian  Church."  This  is  the  more  the  times  of  Jeremy  Bentham 

intpresting   because    for    some  the  protest  against  usury  practi- 

time   the  leaders   of   the   New  cally  ceased,  and  the  civilization 

Learning  did  not  lay  much  em-  begins    which    Kenan   accused 

phasisupon  the  Psalms,  regard-  the  Church  of  putting  back  for 

ing  these  rather  as  the  strong-  a  thousand  years, 
hold  of  their   enemies.      This 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  3rd  Sunday  after  Epiphany  (e)  ;  on 

Ascension  Day  morning. 
Latins. — Sunday  Matins  ;  Easter  Eve  ;   Matins  of  Martyrs  ; 

Michaelmas  ;  All  Saints,  etc. 
Greeks. — Sunday  morning. 

PSALM  XVI.     Conserva  me,  Domine. 

PRESERVE  me,  O  God  :  for  in  thee  have  I  put  my 
trust. 

2  0  my  soul,  thou  hast  said  unto  the  Lord  :  "  Thou 
art  my  God,  my  goods  are  nothing  unto  thee. 

3  "  All  my  delight  is  upon  the  saints,  that  are  in  the 
earth  :  and  upon  such  as  excel  in  virtue." 

4  But  they  that  run  after  another  god  :  shall  have 
great  trouble. 

5  Their   drmk-offerings   of   blood  will  I  not    offer  : 
neither  make  mention  of  their  names  within  my  lips. 

6  The  Lord  himself  is  the  portion  of  mine  inherit- 
ance, and  of  my  cup  :  thou  shalt  maintain  my  lot. 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  XVII  Dayi 

7  The  lot  is  fallen  unto  me  in  a  fair  ground  :  yea.,  I 
have  a  goodly  heritage. 

8  I  will  thank  the  Lord  for  giving  me  warning  :  my 
reins  also  chasten  me  in  the  night-season. 

9  I  have  set  God  always  before  me  :  for  he  is  on  my 
right  hand,  therefore  I  shall  not  fall. 

10  Wherefore  my  heart  was  glad,  and  my  glory 
rejoiced  :  my  tlesh  also  shall  rest  in  hope. 

1 1  For  why  ?  thou  shalt  not  leave  my  soul  in  hell : 
neither  shalt  thou  suffer  thy  Holy  One  to  see  corrup- 
tion. 

12  Thou  shalt  shew  me  the  path  of  life;  in  thy 
presence  is  fulness  of  joj'  :  at  thy  right  hand  there  is 
pleasure  for  evermore. 

This  was  Pico  della   Miran-  an  angel  of  light.     He  tempted 

dola's  favourite.  His  comments  St.  Martin  thus;  but  the  saint 

upon  it  were  Englished  by  Sir  looked  hard  for  the  print  of  the 

Thomas  More.  nails.      In    this   form   he  also 

This  was  the  last  psalm  used  tempted  a  boy  at  a  Benedictine 

by   Sir  Walter  Scott's    Hugh  school   to  idle  away  his  time. 

M'Kail,    a   Genevan    minister,  The    boy,    in    his    perplexity, 

who  was  tortured  by  the  boot  made  the  holy  sign,  sang  these 

in  Claverhouse's  time.  verses,  and  overcame  the  sin  : 

Verse  7.     The    Beauchamp  and  became  the  learned  Bishop 

family    have    for    their    motto  Oswald,    the    second   saint    of 

Fortuiia    mea  in   bello  catnpo,  that  name. 
which   seems  to   refer  to   this  Ver^e  10.     St.   Paul  argued 

verse.  from  this  verse  of  the  prophetic 

Verses  ^  and  \o.   The  enemy  nature    of    this    psalm    (Acts 

of  mankind  often  takes  radiant  xiii.  35). 
Christ-like  form,  and  appears  as 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  first  Mass  on  Easter  Day  (e). 
Latins. — Sunday  morning  ;  Many  Martyrs  ;  Visitation  of  the 

Sick. 
Greeks. — Sunday  Matins. 

PSALM  XVII.     Exaudi,  Domine. 

HEAR  the  right,  O  Lord,  consider  my  complaint : 
and  hearken  unto  my  prayer,  that  goeth  not  out 
of  feigned  lips. 

2  Let  my  sentence  come  forth  from  thy  presence  : 
and  let  thine  eyes  look  upon  the  thing  that  is  equal. 

3  Thou  hast  proved  and  visited  mine  heart  in  the 
night-season  :  thou  hast  tried  me,  and  shalt  find  no 


Day  3  PSALM  XVII  Moi^mig  Prayer 

wickedness  in  me  :  for  I  am  utterly  purposed  that  my 
mouth  shall  not  offend. 

4  Because  of  men's  works,  that  are  done  against  the 
words  of  thy  lips  :  I  have  kept  me  from  the  ways  of 
the  destroyer. 

5  O  hold  thou  up  my  goings  in  thy  paths  :  tliat  my 
footsteps  slip  not. 

6  I  have  called  upon  thee,  O  God,  for  thou  shalt 
hear  me  :  incline  thine  ear  to  me,  and  hearken  unto  my 
words. 

7  Shew  thy  marvellous  loving-kindness,  thou  that 
art  the  Saviour  of  them  which  put  their  trust  in  thee : 
from  such  as  resist  thy  right  hand. 

8  Keep  me  as  the  apple  of  an  eye  :  hide  me  under 
the  shadow  of  thy  wings, 

9  From  the  ungodly  that  trouble  me  :  mine  enemies 
compass  me  round  about  to  take  away  my  soul. 

10  They  are  inclosed  in  their  own  fat  :  and  their 
mouth  speaketh  proud  things. 

1 1  They  lie  waiting  in  our  way  on  every  side  :  turn- 
ing their  eyes  down  to  the  ground  ; 

12  Like  as  a  lion  that  is  greedy  of  his  prey  :  and  as 
it  were  a  lion's  whelp,  lurking  in  secret  places. 

13  Up,  Lord,  disappoint  him,  and  cast  him  down: 
deliver  my  soul  from  the  ungodly,  which  is  a  sword  of 
thine ; 

14  From  the  men  of  thy  hand,  O  Lord,  from  the 
men,  I  say,  and  from  the  evil  world  :  which  have  their 
portion  in  this  life,  whose  bellies  thou  fillest  with  thy 
hid  treasure. 

1 5  They  have  children  at  their  desire  :  and  leave  the 
rest  of  their  substance  for  their  babes. 

16  But  as  for  me,  I  will  behold  thy  presence  in 
righteousness  :  and  when  I  awake  up  after  thy  likeness, 
I  shall  be  satisfied  with  it. 

St.  Jerome  says  that  this  is  five  companions  were  starved  to 

the  psalm  to  which  the  Church  death  at  Spanish  Harbour,  and 

betakes  herself  when  her  ene-  this  verse  was  in  his  mind  as 

mies  begin  to  persecute  her.  he  made   his  last  entry  in   liis 

Verse  7.   Captain  Allen  Gar-  diary.     "  Great  and  marvellous 

diner  left  England  in  1850  on  a  are  the  loving  kindnesses  of  my 

mission  to  Patagonia.     After  a  gracious  God  unto  me.    He  has 

year's  gallant  eft'ort,  he  and  his  preserved  me  hitherto,  and  for 

22 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM   XVIII  Day-T, 

four    days,    although    without  tion  with  the  Seraphic  doctor, 

bodily  food,   without  any   feci-  St.  Bonaventura,  the  author  of 

ings  of  hunger  and  thirst."  "  In  the  Lord's  Atoning  Griel  " 

Versed.    Cusiodi  me  ttt  pupil-  (1221-1274).     Also  with    many 

Ivm    oculi   was   the   motto  of  moderns,  <r._f.,  Archbishop  Tait, 

Pope  Anastasius  IV.  (1153).  Julius  Hare,  and  others. 

Verse  16.   A  favourite  quota- 

Latins. — Sunday  Matins. 

Greeks. — Sunday  morning  ;  Saturday  in  Lent  at  noon. 


rSALM  XVIII.     Biligmn  tc,  Domine. 

I  WILL  love  tliee,  O  Lord,  my  strength ;  the  Lord  is 
my  stonj'  rock,  and  my  defence  :  my  Saviour,  my 
God,  and  my  might,  in  whom  I  will  trust,  my  buckler, 
the  liorn  also  of  my  salvation,  and  my  refuge. 

2  I  will  call  upon  the  Lord,  which  is  worthy  to  be 
praised  :  so  shall  I  be  safe  from  mine  enemies. 

3  The  sorrows  of  death  compassed  me  :  and  the 
overflowings  of  ungodliness  made  me  afraid. 

4  The  pains  of  heU  came  about  me  :  the  snares  of 
death  overtook  me. 

5  In  my  trouble  I  will  call  upon  the  Lord  :  and  com- 
plain unto  my  God. 

6  So  shall  he  hear  my  voice  out  of  his  holy  temple  : 
and  my  complaint  shall  come  before  him,  it  shall  enter 
even  into  his  ears. 

7  The  earth  trembled  and  quaked  :  the  very  founda- 
tions also  of  the  hills  shook,  and  were  removed,  because 
he  was  wroth. 

8  There  went  a  smoke  out  in  his  presence  :  and  a 
consuming  fire  out  of  his  mouth,  so  that  coals  were 
kindled  at  it. 

9  He  bowed  the  heavens  also,  and  came  down  :  and 
it  was  dark  under  his  feet. 

10  He  rode  upon  the  cherubuns,  and  did  fly  :  he 
came  flying  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind. 

1 1  He  made  darkness  his  secret  place  :  his  pavilion 
round  about  hun  with  dark  water,  and  thick  clouds  to 
cover  him. 

12  At  the  brightness  of  his  presence  his  clouds  re- 
moved :  hail-stones,  and  coals  of  fire. 

23 


Day  3  PSALM  XVIII  Evening  Prayer 

13  The  Lord  also  thundered  out  of  heaven,  and  the 
Highest  gave  his  thunder  :  hail-stones,  and  coals  of 
fire. 

14  He  sent  out  his  arrows  and  scattered  them  :  he 
cast  forth  lif^htnings,  and  destroyed  them. 

15  The  springs  of  water  were  seen,  and  the  founda- 
tions of  the  round  world  were  discovered,  at  thy 
chiding,  0  Lord  :  at  the  blasting  of  the  breath  of  thy 
displeasure. 

16  He  shall  send  down  from  on  high  to  fetch  me: 
and  shall  take  me  out  of  many  waters. 

17  He  shall  deliver  me  from  my  strongest  enemy, 
and  from  them  ^A'hich  hate  me  :  for  they  are  too  mighty 
for  me. 

1 8  They  prevented  me  in  the  day  of  my  trouble  :  but 
the  Lord  was  my  upholder. 

19  He  brought  me  forth  also  into  a  place  of  liberty  : 
he  brought  me  forth,  even  because  he  had  a  favour 
unto  me. 

10  The  Lord  shall  reward  me  after  iny  righteous 
dealing  :  according  to  the  cleanness  of  my  hands  shall 
he  recompense  me. 

21  Because  I  have  kept  the  waj's  of  the  Lord  :  and 
have  not  forsaken  my  God,  as  the  wicked  doth. 

22  For  I  have  an  eye  unto  all  his  laws  :  and  will  not 
cast  out  his  commandments  from  me. 

23  I  was  also  uncorrupt  before  him  :  and  eschewed 
mine  own  wickedness. 

24  Tlierefore  shall  the  Lord  reward  mc  after  my 
righteous  dealing  :  and  according  unto  the  cleanness 
of  mj'  hands  in  his  eye -sight. 

25  With  the  holy  thou  shalt  be  holy  :  and  with  a 
perfect  man  thou  shalt  be  perfect. 

26  With  the  clean  thou  shalt  be  clean  :  and  with 
the  froward  thou  shalt  learn  frowardness. 

27  For  thou  shalt  save  the  people  that  are  in  adver- 
sity :  and  shalt  bring  down  the  high  looks  of  the  proud. 

28  Thou  also  shalt  light  my  candle  :  tlie  Lord  my 
God  shall  make  my  darkness  to  be  light. 

29  For  in  thee  I  shall  discomfit  an  host  of  men : 
and  witli  the  help  of  my  God  I  shall  leap  over  the 
wall. 

24 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  XVIII  Day  j, 

30  Tlie  way  of  God  is  an  undefilecl  way  :  the  way  of 
the  Lord  also  is  tried  in  the  fire ;  he  is  the  defender  of 
all  them  that  put  their  trust  in  him. 

31  For  who  is  God,  but  the  Lord  :  or  who  hath  any 
strength,  except  our  God  ? 

32  It  is  God,  that  girdeth  me  with  strength  of  war  : 
and  maketh  my  way  perfect. 

"i)})  He  maketh  my  feet  like  harts'  feet  :  and  setteth 
me  up  on  high. 

34  He  teacheth  mine  hands  to  fight  :  and  mine  arms 
shall  break  even  a  bow  of  steel. 

35  Thou  hast  given  me  tlie  defence  of  thy  salvation  : 
thy  right  hand  also  shall  hold  me  up,  and  thy  loving 
correction  shall  make  me  great. 

36  Thou  shalt  make  room  enough  under  me  for  to 
go  :  that  my  footsteps  shall  not  slide. 

yj  I  will  follow  upon  mine  enemies,  and  overtake 
them  :  neither  will  I  turn  again  till  I  have  destroyed 
them. 

38  I  will  smite  them,  that  they  shall  not  be  able  to 
stand  :  but  fall  under  my  feet. 

39  Thou  hast  girded  me  with  strength  unto  the 
battle  :  thou  shalt  throw  down  mine  enemies  under  me. 

40  Thou  hast  made  mine  enemies  also  to  turn  their 
backs  upon  me  :  and  I  shall  destro3'  them  that  hate  me. 

41  Thej'  shall  cry,  but  there  shall  be  none  to  help 
them  :  yea,  even  unto  the  Lord  shall  they  cry,  but  he 
shall  not  hear  them. 

42  I  "nill  beat  them  as  small  as  the  dust  before  the 
^\'iud  :  I  will  cast  them  out  as  the  clay  in  the  streets. 

43  Thou  shalt  deliver  me  from  the  strivings  of  the 
people  :  and  thou  shalt  make  me  the  head  of  the 
heathen. 

44  A  people  whom  I  have  not  known  :  shall  serve  me. 

45  As  soon  as  they  hear  of  me,  thej'  shall  obey  me : 
but  the  strange  children  shall  dissemble  with  me. 

46  The  strange  children  shall  fail  :  and  be  afraid  out 
of  their  prisons. 

47  The  Lord  liveth,  and  blessed  be  my  strong  helper : 
and  praised  be  the  God  of  my  salvation. 

48  Even  the  God  that  seeth  that  I  be  avenged  :  and 
subdueth  the  people  unto  me. 

25 


Day  2, 


PSALM  XVIII 


Evening  Prayer 


49  It  is  he  that  dehvereth  me  from  mj'  cruel  enemies, 
and  setteth  me  up  above  mine  adversaries  :  thou  shalt 
rid  iiie  from  the  wicked  man. 

50  For  this  cause  will  I  give  thanks  unto  thee,  O 
Lord,  among  the  Gentiles  :  and  sing  praises  luito  thy 
Name. 

51  Great  prosperity  giveth  he  unto  his  King  :  and 
sheweth  lo\ing-kindness  unto  David  his  Anointed,  and 
unto  his  seed  for  evermore. 


Verse  to.   Kirke  White  chal- 
lenged any  other  translator  to 
excel  Sternhold  and   Hopkins' 
spirited  version  of  these  words  : 
"  On  cherubs  and  on  cherubims 
Full  royally  he  rode, 
.And  on  the  wings  of  mighty 
winds 
Came  flying  all  abroad." 
But  Pope  ridiculed  the  lines 
by  his  reference  to  them  in  the 
Prologue  to  his  Satires. 

Shakespeare  has  the  verse  in 
his  mind  in  Macbeth's 
"  Pity,  like  a  new  born  naked 
babe 
Striding  the  blast,  or  heaven's 
cherubin,  horsed 


Upon  the  sightless  couriers  of    as  his  reason. 


light  is  so  intense  that  it  is  dark 
to  us,  not  from  its  own  nature, 
but  from  our  limitations.  So 
many  others,  from  Molinos' 
enthusiastic  comment,  "  See 
now  if  darkness  be  not  to  be 
esteemed  and  embraced,"  to 
John  Norris's  lines : 

"Tho'  Light  and  Glory  be  th' 

Almighty's  throne, 
Darkness  is  his  Pavilion." 

Verses  13  and  14.  Bede  re- 
lates that  St.  Chad  used  to 
remain  prostrate  in  prayer  in 
church  during  great  gales  and 
storms,  interceding  for  those  in 
danger.     He  gave  these  verses 


the  air. 
Shall  blow  the  horrid  deed  in 

every  eye. 
That  tears   shall   drown  the 

wind." 
He  has  several  other  allusions 
to  this  psalm  ;  for  instance  : 

"  O  war  !  thou  son  of  hell. 
Whom  angry  heavens  do  make 

their  minister, 
Throw  in  the  frozen  bosoms  of 

our  part 
Hot  coals  of  vengeance." 

Verse  11.  A  stronghold  of 
the  Mystics.  Theodore(of  Mop- 
suestia),  for  instance,  dwells  on 
this  verse  as  showing  that  God's 

Latins. — Sunday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Sunday  morning, 


]'erse  29.  "By  the  help  of 
God  and  your  holiness,"  wrote 
Mary  Queen  of  Scots  to  the 
Pope,  "  I  shill  leap  over  the 
wall  "  of  English  opposition  to 
the  ecclesiastical  domination  of 
the  Italian  Church  ;  but  the 
gallant  lady  broke  her  neck  in 
the  leap. 

I'crse  39.  When  Clovis  sent 
to  St.  Mirtin's  tomb  to  ask  for 
an  omen  in  his  conflict  with 
Alaric,  his  messengers  heard 
the  monks  chanting  these  words 
(507  A.  D. ).  The  augury  proved 
correct. 


26 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM   XIX  Day /^ 

PSALM  XIX.     C(di  enarrant. 

THE  heavens  declare  the  glory  of   God  :  and  the 
firmament  sheweth  his  handy-work. 

2  One  day  telleth  another  :  and  one  night  certifieth 
another. 

3  There  is  neither  speech  nor  language  :  but  their 
voices  are  heard  among  them. 

4  Their  sound  is  gone  out  into  all  lands  :  and  their 
words  into  the  ends  of  the  world. 

5  In  them  hath  he  sat  a  tabernacle  for  the  sun : 
which  Cometh  forth  as  a  bridegroom  out  of  his  chamber, 
and  rejoiceth  as  a  giant  to  run  his  course. 

6  It  goeth  forth  from  the  uttermost  part  of  the 
heaven,  and  runneth  about  unto  the  end  of  it  again : 
and  there  is  nothing  hid  from  the  heat  thereof. 

7  The  law  of  the  Lord  is  an  undefiled  law,  converting 
the  soul  :  the  testimony  of  the  Lord  is  sure,  and  giveth 
wisdom  imto  the  simple. 

8  The  statutes  of  the  Lord  are  right,  and  rejoice  the 
heart  :  the  connnandment  of  the  Lord  is  pure,  and 
giveth  hght  unto  the  eyes. 

9  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  clean,  and  endureth  for 
ever  :  the  judgements  of  the  Lord  are  true,  and  righteous 
altogether. 

10  More  to  be  desired  are  they  than  gold,  yea,  than 
much  fine  gold  :  sweeter  also  than  honey,  and  the 
honey-comb. 

1 1  Moreover,  by  them  is  thy  servant  taught  :  and  m 
keeping  of  them  there  is  great  reward. 

12  Who  can  tell  how  often  he  offendeth  :  0  cleanse 
thou  me  from  my  secret  faults. 

13  Keep  thy  servant  also  from  presumptuous  sins, 
lest  they  get  the  dominion  over  me  :  so  shall  I  be  un- 
defiled, and  innocent  from  the  great  offence. 

14  Let  the  words  of  my  mouth,  and  the  meditation 
of  my  heart  :  be  alway  acceptable  in  thy  sight, 

1 5  0  Lord  :  xm  strength,  and  my  redeemer. 


This  psalm  was  one  of  St.  cal  interpretation  of  the  giant 
Augustine's  favourites.  Its  use  and  other  imagery.  In  the 
at  Christmas  is  from  the  mysti-     Sarum  hymn,  Veni  Redempior , 


Day^ 


PSALM  XIX 


Morning  Prayer 


attributed  sometimes  to  St. 
Ambrose,  we  have  this  refer- 
ence : 

Procedens  e  thalamo  suo 
Pudoris  aula  regia 
Gemina;  gigas  substaiicB 
Alacris  ut  ciirrat  viam. 

Mr.  Ruskin  in  vol.  v.  of 
' '  Modern  Painters, "  while  treat- 
ing of  the  Angel  of  the  Sea, 
Rain,  speaks  to  iis  of  the 
' '  parts  of  the  Bible  we  are  in- 
tended to  make  specially  our 
own  " — the  Psalms — and  writes 
quite  a  commentary  on  this 
one. 

Verse  i.  Cesli  enarrant 
gloria  m  Dei  et  operationem 
matntum  ejus  annunciat  Jir- 
tnamenturn — a  common  sun- 
dial motto. 

Verse  2.  Dies  Diem  docet 
— Disce!  is  the  dial  motto  in 
Barniston  Church,  Yorks.  Nox 
nodi  indicat  scientiatn  is  the 
motto  of  one  of  William  Hab- 
ington's  most  beautiful  poems 
(xvii.  cent.),  "When  I  survey 
the  bright  celestial  sphere." 

Verse  4.  Justinianus  of 
Genoa,  in  his  polyglot  Psalter 
of  1562,  cannot  resist  enlarging 
upon  this  verse.  In  fines  orbis 
terrcB  verba  eorum,  in  praise  of 
his  fellow-countryman,  Chris- 
topher Columbus,  who,  though 
born  of  the  meanest  of  the 
people,  had  discovered  the  ends 
of  the  world  in  America.  His 
digression  is  the  most  interest- 
ing part  of  his  book. 

Verse  5.  This  is  a  favourite 
verse  with  the  poets.  St, 
.Ambrose,  Milton,  Addison. 
Thomson,  Wordsworth,  etc., 
embody  it  in  their  verses. 
Spenser  alludes  to  it : 


"  Phoebus,  fresh  as  bridegroom 
to  his  mate. 
Came  dancing  forth,  shaking 
his  dewy  hair." 
And  Shakespeare  (with  whom 
it  seems  a  favourite)  : 
"  See  how  the  morning  opes  her 
golden  gates, 
And  takes  her  farewell  of  the 

glorious  sun  ! 
How   well    resembles   it    the 

pride  of  youth, 
Trimmed    like    a    younker. 
prancing  to  his  love." 
And  perhaps  these — 
"  Night's  candles  are  burnt  out, 
and  jocund  day 
Stands   tiptoe   on   the   misty 
mountain-top." 

And- 

"The  glorious  sun 
Stays  in  his  course  and  plays 

the  alchemist ; 
Turning  with  splendour  of  his 

precious  eye 
The    meagre   cloddy   earth   to 

glittering  gold." 
But  certainly  he  has  an  echo  of 
this  psalm  in  his  mind  in — 

' '  Look !  how  the  floor 

of  heaven 
Is  thick  inlaid  with  patines  of 

bright  gold ; 
There's    not   the  smallest   orb 

which  thou  behold' st 
But  in  his  motion  like  an  angel 

sings, 
Still  quiring  to  the  young-ey'd 

cherubins  : 
Such  harmony  is  in  immortal 

souls  ; 
But,  whilst  this  muddy  vesture 

of  decay 
Doth   grossly  close  us  in,  we 

cannot  hear  it." 


28 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  XX  -Oay  4 

Liturgical  use. — First  psalm  Christmas  Matins. 
Latins. — Matins  Sundays  ;  Christmas  ;  Circumcision  ;  Ascen- 
sion-tide ;  Trinity  ;  Matins  of  Our  Lady. 
Greeks. — Sunday  morning. 

PSALM  XX.     Exaudiat  te  Dominus. 

THE  Lord  hear  thee  in  the  day  of  trouble  :  the  Name 
of  the  God  of  Jacob  defend  thee ; 

2  Send  thee  help  from  the  sanctuary  :  and  strengthen 
thee  out  of  Sion  ; 

3  Remember  all  thy  offermgs  :  and  accept  thy  burnt- 
sacrifice  ; 

4  Grant  thee  thy  heart's  desire  :  and  fulfil  all  thy 
mind. 

5  We  wiU  rejoice  in  thy  salvation,  and  triumph  in 
the  Name  of  the  Lord  our  God  :  the  Lord  perform  all 
thy  petitions. 

6  Now  know  I,  that  the  Lord  helpeth  his  Anointed, 
and  will  hear  him  from  his  holy  heaven  :  even  with 
the  wholesome  strength  of  his  right  hand. 

7  Some  put  then*  trust  in  chariots,  and  some  in 
horses  :  but  we  will  remember  the  Name  of  the  Lord 
our  God. 

8  They  are  brought  down,  and  fallen  :  but  we  are 
risen,  and  stand  upright. 

9  Save,  Lord,  and  hear  us,  0  King  of  heaven  :  when 
we  call  upon  thee. 

Verse  7.     Both  Hilarion  and  cessfully   defended    them    and 

St.    Anthony    of    the    Desert,  gave   them   this   motto.      The 

when  assailed  by  the  mistrust  words  were  often  used  in  the 

and  malice  of  Satan,  defeated  Byzantine  wars  afterwards,  up 

him   with   these   words.      The  till  the  terrible  disaster  of  May, 

same    have    been    used    often  1453,    when    the   infidels   took 

enough   in    spiritual    conflicts,  Constantinople, 

but    they    have    also    been    a  Verse  9.    The  Latin  version, 

battle-cry   in    actual    conflict.  Domine  salvum  fac  regem,   is 

They  were  the  war-cry  of  the  the  origin  of  the  versicle,  "O 

Byzantines   in   the   ninth   cen-  Lord,  save  the  Queen,"  and,  of 

tury.      When    their    city    was  course,    of    our   National  An- 

besieged,  Michael  Balbus  sue-  them. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  5th  Sunday  after  Epiphany  (e) ; 

Queen's  Accession. 
Latins. — Sunday  morning  ;  Visitation  of  the  Sick. 
Greeks. — Sunday  morning  ;  Dawn  in  Lent. 

29 


Day  4  PSALM   XXI  Morning  Prayer 


mi 


PSALM  XXI.     Domine,  in  virtute  tua. 

IHE   King  shall  rejoice  in  thy  strength,  0  Lord : 
I       exceeding  glad  shall  he  be  of  thy  salvation. 

2  Thou  hast  given  him  his  heart's  desire  :  and  hast 
not  denied  him  the  request  of  his  lips. 

3  For  thou  shalt  prevent  him  with  the  blessings  of 
goodness  :  and  shalt  set  a  crown  of  pure  gold  upon  his 
head. 

4  He  asked  hfe  of  thee,  and  thou  gayest  him  a  long 
life  :  even  for  ever  and  ever. 

5  His  honour  is  great  in  thy  salvation  :  glory  and 
great  worship  shalt  thou  lay  upon  him. 

6  For  thou  shalt  give  hmi  everlasting  felicity  :  and 
make  hun  glad  with  the  joy  of  thy  countenance. 

7  And  why  ?  because  the  King  putteth  his  trust  in 
the  Lord  :  and  m  the  mercy  of  the  most  Highest  he 
shall  not  miscarry. 

8  All  thine  enemies  shall  feel  thy  hand  :  thy  right 
hand  shall  find  out  them  that  hate  thee. 

9  Thou  shalt  make  them  like  a  fiery  oven  in  time  of 
thy  wrath  :  the  Lord  shall  destroy  them  in  his  dis- 
pleasm'e,  and  the  fire  shall  consume  them. 

10  Their  fruit  shalt  thou  root  out  of  the  earth  :  and 
their  seed  from  among  the  children  of  men. 

1 1  For  they  mteuded  mischief  against  thee  :  and 
imagined  such  a  device  as  they  are  not  able  to  perform. 

12  Therefore  shalt  thou  put  them  to  flight  :  and  the 
strings  of  thy  bow  shalt  thou  make  ready  against  the 
face  of  them. 

13  Be  thou  exalted.  Lord,  in  thine  own  strength  :  so 
will  we  sing,  and  praise  thy  power. 

Carlyle's  book  of  "  Heroes"  sore  baffled,  down  as  into  cn- 
con tains  this  passage  :  "  David's  tire  wreck  ;  yet  a  struggle  never 
life  and  history,  as  written  for  ended;  ever  with  tears,  repent- 
us  in  those  Psalms  of  his,  I  ance,  true  unconquerable  pur- 
consider  to  be  the  truest  em-  pose,  begun  anew.  Poor  human 
blem  ever  given  of  a  man's  nature !  Is  not  a  man's  walk- 
moral  progressand  warfare  here  ing,  in  truth,  always  that  :  ''a 
below.  All  earnest  souls  will  succession  of  falls  "  ?  Man  can 
ever  discern  in  it  the  faithful  do  no  other.  In  this  wild  elc- 
struggle  of  an  earnest  human  ment  of  a  life  he  has  to  struggle 
soul  towards  what  is  good  and  onwards  ;  now  fallen,  deep- 
best.      Struggle  often   baffled,  abased  ;  and  ever,  with   fears, 

30 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM   XXII  D,iy  ^ 

repentance,  with  bleeding  heart,  Verses  6  and  j.  Laud's  text 
he  has  to  rise  again,  struggle  for  the  accession  sermon  of 
again  still  onwards."  King  James  I. 

Liturgical  use. — Ascension  Day  Matins  ;  Queen's  Accession. 
Latins. — Sunday  Matins  ;  Martyrs  ;  Ascension-tide. 
Greeks. — Sunday  Morning  and  Dawn  in  Lent. 


PSALM  XXII.     Deus,  Deus  mens. 

MY  God,  my  God,  look  upon  me ;  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me  :  and  art  so  far  from  my  health,  and 
from  the  words  of  my  complaint '? 

2  O  my  God,  I  cry  in  the  day-time,  but  thou  hearest 
not  :  and  in  the  night-season  also  I  take  no  rest. 

3  And  thou  continuest  holy  :  O  thou  worship  of 
Israel. 

4  Our  fathers  hoped  in  thee  :  they  trusted  in  thee, 
and  thou  didst  deliver  them. 

5  They  called  upon  thee,  and  were  holpen  :  they  put 
their  trust  in  thee,  and  were  not  confounded. 

6  But  as  for  me,  I  am  a  worm,  and  no  man  :  a  very 
scorn  of  men,  and  the  outcast  of  the  people. 

7  All  the}'  that  see  me  laugh  me  to  scorn  :  they  shoot 
out  their  lips,  and  shake  their  heads,  saying, 

8  He  trusted  in  God,  that  he  would  deliver  him :  let 
him  deliver  him,  if  he  will  have  him. 

9  But  thou  art  he  that  took  me  out  of  my  mother's 
womb  :  thou  wast  my  hope,  when  I  hanged  yet  upon 
my  mother's  breasts. 

10  I  have  been  left  unto  thee  ever  since  I  was  born : 
thou  art  my  God  even  from  my  mother's  womb. 

I  r  0  go  not  from  me,  for  trouble  is  hard  at  hand  : 
and  there  is  none  to  help  me. 

1 2  Many  oxen  are  come  about  me  :  fat  bidls  of  Basan 
close  me  in  on  every  side. 

13  They  gape  upon  me  with  their  mouths  :  as  it 
were  a  ramping  and  a  roaring  lion. 

14  I  am  pom'ed  out  like  water,  and  all  my  bones  are 
out  of  joint  :  my  heart  also  in  the  midst  of  my  body  is 
even  like  melting  wax. 

1 5  My  strength  is  dried  up  like  a  potsherd,  and  my 
tongue  cleaveth  to  my  gums  :  and  thou  shalt  bring  me 
into  the  dust  of  death. 

31 


Day  4  PSALM  XXII  Eveniiig  Prayer 

1 6  For  many  dogs  are  come  about  me  :  and  the 
counsel  of  the  wicked  layeth  siege  against  me. 

17  They  pierced  my  hands  and  my  feet ;  I  may  tell 
all  my  bones  :  they  stand  staring  and  looking  upon  me. 

18  They  part  my  garments  among  them  :  and  cast 
lots  upon  my  vesture. 

19  But  be  not  thou  far  from  me,  0  Lord  :  thou  art 
my  succour,  haste  thee  to  help  me. 

20  Deliver  my  soul  from  the  sword  :  my  darling 
from  the  power  of  the  dog. 

2 1  Save  me  from  the  lion's  mouth  :  thou  hast  heard 
me  also  from  among  the  horns  of  the  unicorns. 

22  I  will  declare  thy  Name  unto  my  brethren :  in 
the  midst  of  the  congregation  will  I  praise  thee. 

23  O  praise  the  Lord,  ye  that  fear  him :  magnify 
him,  all  ye  of  the  seed  of  Jacob,  and  fear  him,  all  ye 
seed  of  Israel : 

24  For  he  hath  not  despised,  nor  abhorred,  the  low 
estate  of  the  poor  :  he  hath  not  hid  his  face  from  him, 
but  when  he  called  unto  hun  he  heard  him. 

25  My  praise  is  of  thee  in  the  great  congregation : 
my  vows  will  I  perform  in  the  sight  of  them  that  fear 
him. 

26  The  poor  shall  eat,  and  be  satisfied  :  they  that 
seek  after  the  Lord  shall  praise  him  ;  your  heart  shall 
live  for  ever. 

27  All  the  ends  of  the  world  shall  remember  them- 
selves, and  be  tm-ned  mito  the  Lord  :  and  all  the  kin- 
dreds of  the  nations  shall  worship  before  him. 

28  For  the  kingdom  is  the  Lord's  :  and  he  is  the 
Governour  among  the  people. 

29  All  such  as  be  fat  upon  the  earth  :  have  eaten, 
and  worshipped. 

30  All  they  that  go  down  mto  the  dust  shall  kneel 
before  him  :  and  no  man  hath  quickened  liis  own  soul. 

3 1  My  seed  shall  serve  him  :  they  shall  be  counted 
unto  the  Lord  for  a  generation. 

32  They  shall  come,  and  the  heavens  shall  declare 
his  righteousness  :  unto  a  people  that  shall  be  born, 
whom  the  Lord  hath  made. 

Verse  \.  The  greatest associ-  it  on  the  Cross.  It  has  be<'n 
ation  this  psahn  can  have  is  suggested  that  perhaps  He 
that  our  Lord  Himself  quoted    quoted   the   Psalter   from   this 

32 


Eveniiis  P raver 


PSALM   XXllI 


Day  4 


lip  to  Psalm  xxxi.  6,  at  wliicli 
lie  gave  up  the  ghost.  The 
mere  possibility  of  this,  invests 
this  part  of  the  Psalter  with 
a  peculiar  interest ;  but  the 
Church  has  never  autliorized 
this  view,  and  has  even  by  im- 
plication denied  it,  by  the  small 
liturgical  use  she  has  made  of 
some  of  the  intervening  psalms. 

Richard  Coeur  de  Lion  had 
this  psalm  in  his  mind  when 
he  ordered  out  the  crusa- 
ders to  battle  and  scarce  a  fifth 
came  out,  and  he  saw  that  the 
crusade  had  failed.  He  cried 
out,  "  My  God,  why  hast  Thou 
forsaken  me?  Oli,  how  unwill- 
ing should  I  be  to  forsake  Thee 
in  so  forlorn  and  dreadful  a 
position  were  I  Thy  Lord  and 
Advocate,  as  Thou  art  mine." 

This  psalm  was  formerly  sung 
by  the  African  Church  at  the 
Easter  Communion,  as  it  is  still 
used  by  Scottish  Presbyterians. 

I'crses  2  and  3  were  the  dying 
meditation  of  Dr.  Thomas 
Newton,  the  art-loving  Bishop 
of  Bristol  (1781).     He  was  the 


mouthpiece  of  Reynolds,  West, 
and  others  for  their  request 
that  they  might  be  allowed  to 
decorate  the  interior  of  St. 
Paul's.  The  Dean  and  Chapter 
refused. 

Verses  4  and  5  were  used  by 
Notker,  the  monk  of  St.  Gall, 
in  his  great  antiphon,  "  In  the 
midst  of  life  we  are  in  death," 
which  he  composed  as  he 
watched  boys  trying  to  "gather 
samphire,  dreadful  trade,"  on 
a  cliff.  The  antiphon  is  used 
in  our  Burial  Service. 

/  'erse  12.  Shakespeare  makes 
Antony  alhide  to  this  psalm, 
and  Psalm  Ixviii.  15,  in  "An- 
tony and  Cleopatra,"  iii.  13. 

Verse  18.  Applied  by  St. 
John  (xix.  24)  to  the  soldiers 
at  the  Crucifixion. 

Verse  2.1.  Evidently  alluded 
to  in  the  Lion  and  Unicorn  ot 
the  Royal  Arms.  This  is  the 
verse  which  Bishop  Burnet 
selected  when  he  preached  be- 
fore the  King  at  the  Rolls 
Chapel,  and  thereby  obtained 
his  dismissal. 


Liturgical  use. — Good    Friday   morning  ;    Introit  for   Good 

Friday  Mass  (e). 
Latins. — Friday  at  Prime  ;  Good  Friday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Sunday  morning. 


PSA.LM  XXIII.     Domimis  regit  me. 

ri'^HE  Lord   is   my  shepherd  :  therefore  can   I  lack 
I       nothing. 

2  He  shall  feed  nie  in  a  green  pastiu-e  :  and  lead  me 
forth  beside  the  waters  of  comfort. 

3  He  sliall  convert  my  soul  :  and  bring  me  forth  m 
the  paths  of  righteousness,  for  his  Name's  sake. 

4  Yea,  though  I  walk  tlu'ougli  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  e\il  :  for  thou  art  with 
me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  comfort  me. 

5  Thou  shalt  prepare  a  table  before  me  against  them 


Days  I'SALM  XXIV  Mor/iing  Pi  ayer 

that  trouble  me  :  thou  hast  anointed  my  head  with  oil, 
and  my  cup  shall  be  full. 

6  But  thy  lovmg-kindness  and  mercy  shall  follow 
me  all  the  days  of  my  life  :  and  I  will  dwell  in  the 
house  of  the  Lord  for  ever. 

Mr.  Ruskin  tells  us  that  this  and  "The  King  of  Love  my 

psalm  was  the  first  he  learnt  at  Shepherd  is,"  are  their  render- 

liis  mother's  knee  ;  and  the  rest  ings.     Sir   Henry    Baker    died 

she  gave  him  as  a  solid  founda-  repeating  his  verse,  "  Perverse 

tion  for  life  and  learning,  were  and  foolish  oft  1  strayed." 

Nos.  .\xxii  ,  xc. ,  xci. ,  ciii.,  cxii.,  Verse  2.      One   of    the   last 

cxix. ,  cxxxix.  poems   of    Heine    quotes   this 

This  was  the  last  psalm  of  verse. 

Edward  Irving,  who  recited  it  Verse  4.     This  is  the  verse 

in    Hebrew   on   his  death-bed  which    St.     Francis    of  Assisi 

before  his  great  disappointment  chanted  when   he  went  alone, 

and  death.  bare-headed   and   bare-footed, 

It  was  a  favourite  with  most  to  convert  the   Sultan    and  to 

of    our   poets.       George    Her-  Christianize  the   Saracens,   in- 

bert,    John    Byrom,    Addison,  stead     of     crusading     against 

and  Sir  Henry  Baker,  are  not  them.      He  was  warned  tliat  he 

the    least    among    those    who  was  going  to  certain  death,  as 

have    translated    it    into   well-  a  price  had  been  set  on  every 

known   verse.      "The   God   of  Christian's  head.     His  sincerity 

Love  my  Shepherd  is,"  "The  and     zeul     so     impressed     the 

Lord  is  my  shepherd,  His  good-  heathen  that  he  was  courteously 

ness    my   song,"    "The    Lord  treated,  and  sent  home, 
my     pasture    shall     prepare," 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  Septuagesima  (e). 
Latins. — Thursday  at  Prime. 

Greeks. — -On  Sunday  morning  ;  Visitation  of  the  Sick  ;  Burial 
of  Priests. 

PSALM  XXIV.     Domini  est  terra. 

THE  earth  is  the  I>ord's,  and  all  tliat  therein  is  :  the 
compass  of  the  world,  and  thoy  that  dwell  thereui, 

2  For  he  hath  founded  it  upon  the  seas  :  and  pre- 
pared it  upon  the  floods. 

3  Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  the  Lord  :  or  who 
shall  rise  up  in  his  holy  place  ? 

4  Even  he  that  hath  clean  hands  and  a  pure  heart  : 
and  that  hath  not  lift  up  his  mind  imto  vanity,  nor 
sworn  to  deceive  his  neighbour. 

5  He  shall  receive  the  blessing  from  the  Lord  :  and 
righteousness  from  the  God  of  his  salvation. 

34 


Munti/iir  Pniyer 


I'SALM   XX1\' 


-^^''.1'  5 


6  This  is  tliG  generation  of  them  that  seek  liim  : 
even  of  them  that  seek  thy  face,  O  Jacob. 

7  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates,  and  be  ye  hft  up, 
ye  everlasting  doors  :  and  the  King  of  glory  sliall 
come  in. 

8  "  AVho  is  the  King  of  glory  "  :  "  it  is  the  Lord 
strong  and  mighty,  even  the  Lord  mighty  in  battle." 

9  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates,  and  be  ye  lift  up, 
ye  evei  lasting  doors  :  and  the  King  of  glory  shall 
come  in. 

10  "  Who  is  the  King  of  glory  "  :  "  e^ven  the  Lord  of 
liosts,  he  is  the  Iving  of  glorj'." 


This  was  a  burial  psalm  in 
St.  Chrysostom's  time,  and  that 
gives  particular  point  to  his 
use  of  it,  when  he  defied  the 
Empress  Eudoxia,  who  threat- 
ened him  for  his  sermon  against 
her.  "  Let  her  banish  me,  if 
she  will,  'The  earth  is  the 
Lord's  ':  let  her  have  me  sawn 
asunder,  Isaiah  suffered  so," 
etc. 

This  psalm  is  the  foundation 
of  that  glorious  old  drama  of 
tlie"  tiarrowingof  Hell  "  (found 
in  the  ' '  Gospel  of  N'icodemus  " 
the  "  Parliament  of  Devils,"  and 
elsewhere).  On  Good  Friday 
the  spirits  and  souls  of  the  men 
of  old  time  were  sitting  in  the 
land  of  Darkness,  when  they 
saw  a  purple  light  break  into 
the  sky.  They  looked  at  one 
and  another,  and  each  quoted 
from  his  writings  a  prophecy  of 
tins  time.  But  ^atan  bade 
make  fast  tlie  great  doors  of 
brass,  and  bar  them  with  the 
iron  bars  of  Cruelty.  But  pre- 
sently Christ  and  His  knights 
were  seen,  and  they  shouted, 
"  Lift  up  your  heads,"  and 
Satan  with  his  men  replied 
scornfully,  "  \\'ho  is  the  King 
of  Glory?"  At  the  last  Christ 
burst    the   brazen    gates,    and 


taking  Adam  by  the  hand, 
delivered  him  to  the  tender 
care  of  the  angels.  To  this 
old  drama  allusion  is  made  in 
the  custom  of  singing  verse  7, 
etc.,  on  Palm  Stmday,  outside 
the  Rood-screen.  Handel  also 
refers  to  this  legend  in  his 
"  Messiah."  But  Dionysius  the 
Areopagite  says  that  as  Christ 
ascended  the  lower  angels  in 
wonder  asked  of  the  mid  ones 
above  them ,  ' '  Who  is  the  King 
of  Glory?"  This  also  explains 
some  of  its  ritual  uses,  t\o.,  on 
Ascension  Day. 

The  \'en.  Bede  quotes  it  in 
his  Ascension  hymn. 

On  Christinas  Eve,  1669, 
Bishop  Hacket  reconsecrated 
the  restored  cathedral  of  Lich- 
field, and  "reconciled  it  from 
much  bloodshed  and  confusion 
according  to  piety  and  best 
antiquity  "  with  these  psalms  : 
in  the  south  aisle,  x.xiv.  ;  north, 
c.  ;  upper  nave,  cii.  ;  south 
chancel,  cxxii.  ;  north  chancel, 
cxxxii. 

Dean  Milman  selected  the 
opening  words  of  the  psalm 
for  the  legend  under  the  figure 
of  Commerce  in  the  Stock  Ex- 
chancre. 


Days  PSALM  XXV  Morning  Prayer 

Liturgical  lese. — Ascension  Day  evening;  Introit  for  Sexa- 
gesima  (e). 

Latins. — Monday  at  Piinie  ;  Matins  for  Martyrs  ;  2nd  Matins 
Easter  Eve  ;  Trinity  Sunday  ;  Dedication  of  a  Churcli  ;  St.  Mary  ; 
St.  Michael  ;  All  Saints  ;  Burial  of  Children,  at  the  Church  ; 
Churching  of  Women. 

Greeks. — Sunday  morning  ;   Burial  of  Priests. 

PSALM  XXV.     Ad  te,  Domine,  levari 

UNTO  thee,  O  Lord,  will  I  lift  up  my  sovil ;  my  God, 
I  have  put  my  trust  in  thee  :  O  let  me  not  be 
confounded,  neither  let  mine  enemies  triumph  over  me. 

2  For  all  they  that  hope  in  thee  shall  not  be  ashamed : 
but  such  as  transgress  without  a  cause  shall  be  put  to 
confusion. 

3  Shew  me  thy  ways,  O  Lord  :  and  teach  me  thy 
paths. 

4  Lead  me  forth  in  thy  truth,  and  learn  me  :  for 
thou  art  the  God  of  my  salvation ;  in  thee  hath  been 
my  hope  all  the  day  long. 

5  Call  to  remembrance,  O  Lord,  thy  tender  mercies : 
and  thy  loving-kindnesses,  which  have  been  ever  of  old. 

6  O  remember  not  the  sins  and  offences  of  my  youth  : 
but  accordmg  to  thy  mercy  think  thou  upon  me,  O 
Lord,  for  thy  goodness. 

7  Gracious  and  righteous  is  the  Lord  :  tlierefore  will 
he  teach  sinners  in  the  way. 

8  Them  that  are  meek  shall  he  guide  in  judgement  : 
and  such  as  are  gentle,  them  shall  he  learn  his  way. 

9  All  the  paths  of  the  Lord  are  mercy  and  truth  : 
mito  such  as  keep  his  covenant,  and  his  testimonies. 

10  For  thy  Name's  sake,  O  Lord  :  be  merciful  unto 
my  sin,  for  it  is  great. 

1 1  What  man  is  he,  that  feareth  the  Lord  :  him  shall 
he  teach  in  the  way  that  he  shall  choose. 

12  His  soul  shall  dwell  at  ease  :  and  his  seed  shall 
inherit  the  land. 

13  The  secret  of  the  Lord  is  among  tliem  that  fear 
biui  :  and  he  will  shew  them  his  covenant. 

14  Mine  eyes  are  ever  looking  unto  the  Lord  :  for 
he  shall  pluck  my  feet  out  of  the  net. 

1 5  Turn  thee  luito  me,  and  liave  mercy  upon  me  : 
for  I  am  desolate,  and  in  misery. 

36 


Morning  Prayer  I'SALM  XXVI  Day  5 

16  The  sorrows  of  my  heart  are  enlarged  :  0  bring 
thou  me  out  of  my  troubles. 

17  Look  upon  my  adversity  and  nuiscry  :  and  forgive 
me  all  my  sin. 

18  Consider  mine  enemies,  how  many  they  are  :  and 
tliey  bear  a  tyrannous  hate  against  me. 

19  0  keep  my  soul,  and  deliver  me  :  let  me  not  be 
confounded,  for  I  have  put  my  trust  in  thee. 

20  Let  perfectness  and  righteous  dealing  wait  upon 
me  :  for  my  hope  hath  been  in  thee. 

2 1  Deliver  Israel,  O  God  :  out  of  all  his  troubles. 

This  was  part  of  the  private  and  Defender  of  the  poor  :  for 

daily  prayers  given  to  the  clergy  "he  had  perfect  trust  in  God, 

by  .Archbishop  Elfric,  v.ith  Ps.  even  to  his   death,  for  at  the 

x.wi.  and  li.  moment  of  his   dying,   in    his 

Joinville     notices     that     St.  last  words,  he  invoked  God  and 

Louis  of  France  was  crowned  His    saints,    especially    Mon- 

onist  Sunday  in  .Advent,  "when  seigneur  St.  James  and  Madame 

the   Mass   begins  with   Ad  te  Ste.  Genevieve." 

kvavi    animam     meiZiii,     and  Strafford  repeated  the  psalm 

what  follows  is  this  :   Fair  Sire  on  the  scaffold. 

God,  I  will  lift  up  my  soul  unto  From  wn-g  5,  the  Introit,  the 

Thee,  I  put  my  trust  in  Thee  ;"  2nd  Sunday  in  Lent,  is  called 

words  which  seemed  to  strike  Reminiscere :    and  from  verse 

the  keynote  of  the  reign  of  that  14,  the  3rd  Sunday,  is  called 

noble  Prince,   pious   Crusader  Oculi. 

Latins. — Prime  on  Tuesday. 

Greeks.— On  Monday  morning,  3rd  hour;  late  Evensong  in 
Lent. 

PSALM  XXVI.     Judica  me,  Domine. 

BE  thou  my  Judge,  O  Lord,  for  I  have  walked  inno- 
cently :  my  trust  hath  been  also  in  the  Lord, 
therefore  shall  I  not  fall. 

2  Examine  me.  O  Lord,  and  prove  me  :  try  out  my 
reins  and  my  heart. 

3  For  thy  loving-kindness  is  ever  before  mine  eyes  : 
and  I  will  walk  in  thy  truth.    • 

4  I  have  not  dwelt  with  vain  persons  :  neither  will  I 
have  fellowship  with  the  deceitful. 

5  I  have  hated  the  congregation  of  the  wicked  :  and 
will  not  sit  among  the  ungodly. 

6  I  will  wash  my  hands  in  innocency,  0  Lord  :  and 
so  will  I  go  to  thine  altar  ; 

37 


Day 


PSALM  XXVII 


Evening  Prayer 


7  That  I  may  shew  the  voice  of  thanksgiving  :  and 
tell  of  all  thy  wondrous  works. 

8  Lord,  I  have  loved  the  habitation  of  thy  house  : 
and  the  place  where  thine  honour  dwelleth. 

9  O  shut  not  up  m^■  soul  with  the  sinners  :  nor  my 
life  with  the  bloodthirsty  ; 

10  In  whose   hands  is  wickedness  :  and  their  right 
hand  is  full  of  gifts. 

1 1  But  as  for  me,  I  will  walk  innocently  :  O  deliver 
me,  and  be  merciful  unto  me. 

12  My  foot  standeth  right  :  I  will  praise  the  Lord  in 
the  congregations. 

This  psalm  (with  xxv.  and  li. ) 
was  given  for  daily  use  by 
Archbishop  Elfric  to  his  clergy 
in  995  A.D.  He  followed  Theo- 
dulf's  Capitnla  in  recommend- 
ing it  for  this  use. 

Verse  4.  Both  that  "  unpity- 
ing  Phrygian  sect,"  the  Mon- 
tanists,  and  the  Donatists  laid 
great  stress  upon  this  verse, 
and  used  it  to  uphold  their 
schisms,  forgetting  that  the  ad- 
mission to  the  Church  Catholic 
is  not  given  us  because  we  love 
Christ  and  are  good,  but  be- 
cause He  loves  us.  The  Bap- 
tists, who  have  been  called 
"Donatists  new  dipt,"  occupy 
now  some  of  the  ground  once 
held  by  the  earlier  sects. 

Verse  6  to  the  end.  These 
words  are  the  f.avabo,  the  words 
the  priest  uses  at  Mass,  when 
he  washes  his  finger-tips,  after 
the  oblation  of  the  alms,  bread, 

Liturgical  use.  —  Introit  for  Mass  on  Quinquagesima  Sunday 
(e). 

Latins. — Prime  on  Wednesday. 

Greeks. — On  Monday  morning. 


and  wine,  before  the  Canon  or 
essential  part  of  the  service. 

/  'erse  8.  A  favourite  verse  of 
Charlemagne's  (Doiiiine  dilexi 
decoi'em  doiin'/s  tuce),  though 
he  was  careful  to  insist  that 
decorcm  in  church  does  not 
mean  statues.  He  took  great 
interest  in  psalm-singing  and 
reformed  it  carefully,  and 
"although  he  was  a  master  at 
reading  and  psalming,  yet  he 
would  not  read  aloud  in  church, 
nor  sing  in  his  resonant  voice, 
save  with  all  the  rest,  and  in 
obedience  to  the  precentor" — 
no  small  virtue  in  his  day. 

Verse  11.  In  innocent  id  med 
ingressiis  sum.  This  was  Inno- 
cent YIlI.'s  motto,  and  it  wa<; 
also  his  epitaph,  1484.  He  was 
a  friend  of  Lorenzo  dei  Medici. 
It  was  also  a  favourite  saying 
of  Pico  della  Mirandola. 


PSALM  XXVII.     Dominm  illumimitio. 

THE  Lord  is  my  light,  and  my  salvation  ;   whom 
then  shall  I  fear  :  the  Lord  is  the  strength  of  my 
life ;  of  whom  then  shall  I  be  afraid  ? 

38 


Evening  Prayer  PSAI.M  XXVII  Days 

2  Wlien  the  wicked,  even  mine  enemies,  and  my 
foes,  came  upon  me  to  eat  up  my  tiesh  :  they  stumbled 
and  fell. 

3  Though  an  host  of  men  were  laid  against  me,  yet 
shall  not  my  heart  be  afraid  :  and  though  there  rose  up 
war  against  me,  yet  will  I  put  my  trust  in  him. 

4  One  thing  have  I  desired  of  the  Lord,  which  I  will 
require  :  even  that  I  may  dwell  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord  all  the  days  of  my  life,  to  behold  the  fair  beauty 
of  the  Lord,  and  to  visit  his  temple. 

5  For  in  the  time  of  trouble  he  shall  hide  me  in  his 
tabernacle  :  yea,  m  the  secret  place  of  his  dwelling 
shall  he  hide  me,  and  set  me  up  upon  a  rock  of  stone. 

6  And  now  shall  he  lift  up  mine  head  :  above  inine 
enemies  round  about  me. 

7  Therefore  will  I  offer  in  his  dwelling  an  oblation 
with  great  gladness  :  I  will  sing,  and  speak  praises 
unto  the  Lord. 

8  Hearken  unto  my  voice,  O  Lord,  when  I  cry  unto 
thee  :  have  mercy  upon  me,  and  hear  me. 

9  My  heart  hath  talked  of  thee,  "  Seek  ye  my  face  "  : 
"  Thy  face,  Lord,  will  I  seek." 

10  0  hide  not  thou  thy  face  from  me  :  nor  cast  thy 
servant  away  in  displeasure. 

1 1  Thou  hast  been  my  succour  :  leave  me  not, 
neither  forsake  me,  O  God  of  my  salvation. 

1 2  A\lien  my  father  and  my  mother  forsake  me  :  the 
Lord  taketh  me  up. 

1 3  Teach  me  thy  way,  O  Lord  :  and  lead  me  in  the 
right  way,  because  of  mine  enemies. 

14  Deliver  me  not  over  into  the  will  of  mine  adver- 
saries :  for  there  are  false  witnesses  risen  up  agahist 
me,  and  such  as  speak  wrong. 

15  I  should  utterly  have  fainted  :  but  that  I  be- 
lieve verily  to  see  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  in  the 
land  of  the  living. 

16  O  tarry  thou  the  Lord's  leisure  :  be  strong,  and 
he  shall  comfort  thine  heart ;  and  put  thou  thy  trust  in 
the  Lord. 

Tliis  was  one  of  the  psalms  for  January,  1858,  records  that 

with  which  St.  Anselm  cheered  she  read  this  psalm  just  before 

himself  in  his  exile.  parting   with   her    husband   in 

Lady  Lawrence,  in  her  diary  India. 

39 


Day^  PSALM  XXVI 1 1  Evening  Prayer 

Verse    i.     Duminus    ilhiuii-  with  which   Richard  Reynolds 

7iatio   fnea   is   the   Charles   II.  received  his  sentence  of  ex  ecu - 

motto  of  Oxford  University.  lion   at  Tyburn    in    1535,    lor 

Verse  4.  The  last  words  of  his  adhesion  to  the  auto- 
many  of  the  saints,  e.g. ,  SS.  cracy  of  the  Pope.  He  has 
Peter  Balsam,  Magloire  of  been  'beatified'  in  our  own 
Brittany,  etc.  time.       Like     many     of     the 

Verse  12.  This  verse  inspired  Psalms   it    has    been    said    by 

and  comforted  Mary  Bosanquet  those    appointed     to     die,    as 

(afterwards    Mrs.     Fletcher   of  they    were    carried    along    ihe 

Madeley),  when,  at  the  age  of  old  Tyburn   Road  from  New- 

tuenty-two,  she  was  cast  out  of  gate,   which   is    no.v    Holborn 

her  father's  house  for  Method-  and  Oxford  Street.    I  he  gallows 

jsrn.  stood    where     43,     tlonnaught 

Verse  15.   "I  believe  to  see,"  Square  is  now,  near  the  Marble 

etc.,  were  the  Requiem  words  Arch. 

Liturgical  use.— A.  dirge  psalm  (see  note  on  Ps.  v.). 

ZLa//«y.— Matins  on  Monday  ;  Good  Friday  morning  ;  Laster 

Eve.  ^  ,       ... 

Greeks. — Monday  morning  and  Visitation  of  the  Sick. 

PSALM  XXVIIT.     Ad  te,  Domhw. 

UNTO  thee  will  I  cry,  O  Lord  my  strength  :  think 
no  scorn  of  me  \  lest,  if  thou  make  as  though 
thou  hearest  not,  I  become  like  them  that  go  clown 
into  the  pit. 

2  Hear  the  voice  of  my  humble  petitions,  when  I  cry 
unto  thee  :  when  I  hold  up  my  hands  towards  the 
mercy-seat  of  thy  holy  temple. 

3  6  pluck  me  not  away,  neither  destroy  me  with  the 
ungodly  and  wicked  doers  :  which  speak  friendly  to 
their  neighbours,  but  imagine  mischief  in  their  hearts. 

4  Keward  them  according  to  their  deeds  :  and  ac- 
cording to  the  wickedness  of  their  own  inventions. 

5  Recompense  them  after  the  work  of  their  hands  : 
pay  them  that  they  have  deserved. 

6  For  they  regard  not  in  their  mind  the  works  of 
the  Lord,  nor  the  operation  of  his  hands  :  therefore 
shall  he  break  them  down,  and  not  build  tliem  up. 

7  Praised  be  the  Lord  :  for  he  hath  heard  the  voice 
of  my  humble  petitions. 

8  The  Lord  is  my  strength,  and  my  shield  ;  my 
heart  hath  trusted  in"^  him,  and  I  am  helped  :  therefore 
my  heart  danceth  for  joy.  and  in  my  song  will  I  praise 
him. 

40 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  XXIX  Day  5 

9  The  Lord  is  my  strength  :  and  he  is  the  whole- 
some defence  of  his  Anointed. 

10  O   save  thy  people,  and  give  thy  blessing  uuto 
thine  inheritance  :  feed  them,  and  set  them  up  for  ever. 

Verses  i  and  ■2.  These  were  I'crse  8.     Doininus    adiutor 

the      verses      which      Albertus  mens  el  protector  mens :  in  ipso 

Magnus  regarded  as   the  type  sperjvif     cor     menin.      These 

and      model     of     all     prayer,  worrls  were  chosen  by  Edward 

He   was  a   Suabian   by  birth,  the  Black  Prince  as  the  motto 

became     a     Dominican,     and  for  the  silver  coins  he  struck  in 

was    so    learned    that    it   was  Guienne,  after  his  victories  in 

commonly    said    of    him    that  France. 

"God   had  never  divulged  so  Verse    10.    The  last   quarter 

many  of  His  secrets  to  one  of  of    the     Te    Dciim    is   wholly 

His    creatures,"  and   he   must  compiled  from  the  Psalms,  this 

have  practised  evil  arts  to  get  verse    forming   vv.   22  and   23 

them.     He  died  in  1280.  of  that  hymn. 

Latins. — Matins  on  Monday. 
Greeks. — On  Monday  morning. 


PSALM  XXIX.     yiffrvte  Domino. 

BEING  unto  the  Lord,  0  ye  mighty,  bring  young 
rams  unto  the  Lord  :  ascribe  unto  the  Lord  wor- 
ship and  strength. 

2  Give  the  Lord  the  honour  due  unto  his  Name  : 
worsliip  the  Lord  with  holy  worship. 

3  It  is  the  I^ord,  that  commandeth  the  waters  :  it  is 
the  glorious  God,  that  maketh  the  thmider. 

4  It  is  the  Lord,  that  ruleth  the  sea ;  the  voice  of 
the  Lord  is  mighty  in  operation  :  the  voice  of  the  Lord 
is  a  glorious  voice. 

5  The  voice  of  the  Lord  breaketh  the  cedar-trees : 
yea,  the  Lord  breaketh  the  cedars  of  Libanus. 

6  He  maketli  them  also  to  skip  hke  a  calf  :  Libanus 
also,  and  Sirion,  like  a  young  unicorn. 

7  The  voice  of  the  Lord  divideth  the  tlames  of  fire  ; 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  shaketh  the  %\-ilderness  :  yea,  the 
Lord  shaketh  the  wilderness  of  Cades. 

8  The  voice  of  the  Lord  maketh  the  hinds  to  bring 
forth  young,  and  discovereth  the  thick  bushes  :  in  his 
temple  doth  every  man  speak  of  his  honour. 

9  The  Lord  sitteth  above  the  water-Hood  :  and  the 
Lord  remaineth  a  King  for  ever. 

41 


Day  6  PSALM  XXX  Morning  Prayer 

lo  The  Lord  shall  give  strength  unto  his  people  :  the 
Lord  shall  give  his  people  the  blessing  of  peace. 

This  was  the  psalm  sung  at  every  man  speak  of  his  honour.  " 

the  baptism   of  Clevis,  and  of  These  words  are  the  motto,  and 

Ethelbert,  and  of  all  the  con-  suggested  as  the  title,  of  George 

verts    from    paganism    in    the  Herbert's  "  Sacred  Poems  and 

warfare    of    the    Church   with  Private    Ejaculations,"    which 

Western    and    Northern    bar-  were   published  at  Cambridge 

barism.  in     1633,    and     called     "  The 

Versed.   "  In  his  temple  dolh  Temple." 

Latins. — Monday    at     Matins  ;     Epiphany    Matins ;     Adult 

Baptism. 
Greeks. — Monday  morning. 


PSALM  XXX.     Emltaho  fe,  Domine. 

I  WILL  magnify  thee,  0  Lord,  for  thou  hast  set  me 
up  :  and  not  made  my  foes  to  triumph  over  me. 

2  0  Lord  my  God,  I  cried  unto  thee  :  and  thou  hast 
healed  me. 

3  Thou,  Lord,  hast  brought  my  soul  out  of  hell : 
thou  hast  kept  my  life  from  them  that  go  down  to 
the  pit. 

4  Sing  praises  unto  the  Lord,  0  ye  saints  of  his  : 
and  give  thanks  unto  him  for  a  remembrance  of  his 
holiness. 

5  For  his  wrath  endureth  but  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye,  and  in  his  pleasure  is  life  :  heaviness  may  endure 
for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning. 

6  And  in  my  prosperity  I  said,  I  shall  never  be 
removed  :  thou.  Lord,  of  thy  goodness  hast  made  my 
hill  so  strong. 

7  Thou  didst  turn  thy  face  from  me  :  and  I  was 
troubled. 

8  Then  cried  I  vmto  tliee,  O  T^ord  :  and  gat  me  to 
my  Lord  right  humbly. 

9  "  What  profit  is  there  in  my  blood  :  when  I  go 
down  to  the  pit  ? 

10  *•  Shall  the  dust  give  thanks  unto  thee  :  or  shall 
it  declare  thy  truth  ? 

I  I  "  Hear,  0  Lord,  and  have  mercy  upon  me  :  Lord, 
be  thou  my  helper." 

42 


Morning  P my er  I'SALM  XXXI  D.iy  6 

12  Thou  hast  turned  my  heaviness  into  joy  :  thou 
hast  put  otl'  my  sackcloth,  and  girded  me  with  glad- 
ness. 

1 3  Therefore  shall  every  good  man  sing  of  thy  praise 
without  ceasing  :  O  my  God,  I  will  give  thanks  unto 
thee  for  ever. 

This  is  the  first  of  the  niusi-  ]'e?-se  5.  A  common  medi- 
cal psalms,  as  they  are  called  osval  text  for  I""aster  Day, 
from  their  titles.  The  others  "alluded  to  in  many  of  the 
are  xlviii. ,  Ixvii.,  Ixviii.,  Ixxv,,  Latin  Easter  hymns";  hence 
xcii.  its  Latin  use  on  Easter  Eve. 

Liturgical  use. — A  dirge  psalm  (see  Ps.  v.). 

Latins. — Monday  Matins  ;  Easter  Eve. 

Greeks. — Monday  morning  ;  Mesorion  of  third  hour. 


PSALM  XXXI.     In  fe,  Domine,  speravi. 

TX  thee,  O  Lord,  have  I  put  my  trust  :  let  me  never 
be  put  to  confusion,  deliver  me  in  thy  righteous- 
ness. 

2  l^ow  down  thine  ear  to  me  :  make  haste  to  deliver 
me. 

3  And  be  thou  my  strong  rock,  and  house  of  defence  : 
that  thou  mayest  save  me. 

4  For  thou  art  my  strong  rock,  and  my  castle  :  be 
thou  also  my  guide,  and  lead  me  for  thy  Name's  sake. 

5  Draw  me  out  of  the  net,  that  they  have  laid  privily 
for  me  :  for  thou  art  my  strength. 

6  Into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit  :  for  thou 
hast  redeemed  me,  0  Lord,  thou  God  of  truth. 

7  I  have  hated  them  that  hold  of  superstitious 
vanities  :  and  my  tn;st  hatli  been  in  the  Lord. 

8  I  will  be  glad,  and  rejoice  in  thy  mercy  :  for  thou 
hast  considered  my  trouble,  and  hast  known  my  soul 
in  adversities. 

9  Thou  hast  not  shut  me  up  into  the  hand  of  the 
enemy  :  but  hast  set  my  feet  in  a  large  room. 

10  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  Lord,  for  I  am  in 
trouble  :  and  mine  eye  is  consumed  for  very  heaviness ; 
yea,  my  soul  and  my  body. 

1 1  For  my  life  is  waxen  old  with  heaviness  :  and 
my  yeai's  with  mourning. 

43 


Day  6  PSALM  XXXI  Morning  Prayer 

12  My  strength  faileth  me,  because  of  mine  iniquity : 
and  my  bones  are  consumed. 

13  I  became  a  reproof  among  all  mine  enemies,  but 
especially  among  my  neighbours  :  and  they  of  mine 
acquaintance  were  afraid  of  me  ;  and  they  that  did  see 
me  without  conveyed  themselves  from  me. 

14  I  am  clean  forgotten,  as  a  dead  man  out  of  mind  : 
I  am  become  like  a  broken  vessel. 

15  For  I  have  heard  the  blasphemy  of  the  multi- 
tude :  and  fear  is  on  every  side,  while  they  conspire 
together  against  me,  and  take  their  counsel  to  take 
away  my  life. 

16  But  my  hope  hath  been  in  thee,  O  Lord  :  I  have 
said.  Thou  art  my  God. 

17  My  time  is  in  thy  hand;  deliver  me  from  the 
hand  of  mine  enemies  :  and  from  them  that  persecute 
me. 

18  Shew  thy  servant  the  light  of  thy  countenance  : 
and  save  me  for  thy  mercy's  sake. 

19  Let  me  not  be  confounded,  O  Lord,  for  I  have 
called  upon  thee  :  let  the  ungodly  be  put  to  confusion, 
and  be  put  to  silence  in  the  grave. 

20  Let  the  lying  lips  be  put  to  silence  :  which 
cruelly,  disdainfully,  and  despitefully,  speak  against 
the  righteous. 

21  O  how  plentiful  is  thy  goodness,  which  thou  hast 
laid  up  for  them  that  fear  thee  :  and  that  thou  hast 
prepared  for  them  that  put  their  trust  in  thee,  even 
before  the  sons  of  men  ! 

22  Thou  shalt  hide  them  privily  by  thine  own  pre- 
sence from  the  provoking  of  all  men  :  thou  shalt  keep 
them  secretly  in  thy  tabernacle  from  the  strife  of 
tongues. 

23  Thanks  be  to  the  Tjord  :  for  he  hath  shewed  me 
marvellous  great  kindness  in  a  strong  city. 

24  And  when  I  made  haste,  I  said  :  I  am  east  out  of 
the  sight  of  thine  eyes. 

25  Nevertheless,  thou  heardcst  the  voice  of  my 
prayer  :  when  I  cried  unto  thee. 

26  O  love  the  Lord,  all  ye  his  saints  :  for  the  Lord 
preserveth  tliem  that  are  faithful,  and  plenteously  re- 
wardetli  the  proud  doer. 

44 


Even  in  '<■  Pn  iver 


>AI.M   XXXII 


Day  6 


27  Be  strong,  and  lie  shall  (.'stablisli  your  licart  :  all 
ye  that  put  your  trust  in  the  Lord. 

The  fact  that  our  Lord's  ftindar  in  crterniiui,  were  the 
last  words  were  contained  in  last  words  of  the  heroic  ;iuilior 
this  psahii  would  have  given  of  the  hymn,  "  My  God,  1  love 
it  a  greater  universal  promin-  Thee,"  Francis  Xavier,  the 
ence,  if  it  had  not  been  that  Jesuit  missionary,  who  died  on 
he  inserted  the  word"  Father,"  the  sand  of  the  island  of  San- 
which  makes  it  improbable  cian,  leaning  on  his  crucifix, 
that  he  meant  merely  to  cite  He  was  bent  on  reaching  China, 
David's  words.  The  enormous  when  death  cut  him  off  in  1552. 
number  of  eminent  and  ob-  .Savonarola  had  meditated  upon 
this  psalm  between  his  cruel 
torture  and  his  judicial  murder 
in  1498  {vide  Ps.  cxlviii.). 

/V;-.v('  I.  In  te,  Dominc, 
speravi,  is  the  heraldic  motto  of 
the  House  of  Straihmore  ;  and 
Esperance  en  Dieu  is  that  of 
the  Percies  of  Northumberland. 
Verse  6.  In  ma  mis  f/ias 
Dominc,  commendo  spiritum 
mciun  were  the  last  words  also 


scure  Christians  who  ha\  e  died 
with  verse  6  on  their  lips  is 
beyond  all  possible  calculation. 
Even  King  Arthur,  in  the  old 
romances,  says  his  In  maniis 
tuas.  Most  of  the  earlier  Saints, 
Christian  Fatliers,  Schoolmen, 
even  the  heretics,  the  greater 
Reformers,  and  the  victims  of 
hatred  or  persecution  on  either 
side,  used  the  psalm  thus, 
e.g.,  S.S.  Polycarp,  Epiphanius  of  Columbus,  as  he  died  heart- 
Nicholas,  Basil,  CharU-magne,  broken  at  Valladolid,  in  1506  ; 
Louis  and  Bernard.  Also  Con-  as  also  of  poor  mad  Tasso,  in 
radine  and  Mary  Queen  of  the  monastery  of  St.  Onofrio 
Scots,    and    Northumberland,     (1594)  ;   and  of  gentle  George 


Suffolk,  and  Essex,  at  their 
execution.'-.  If  Huss,  I^uther, 
Ridley,  and  Kno.x  said  the 
words  when  they  were  dying, 
so   did    the    blessed    Cuthbert 


Herbert,  at  Bemerton,  in  1632, 
etc. 

Verse  7.  On  July  27th,  1628, 
Dr.  Peter  Smart  preached  from 
this   a    violent    tirade   against 


Maine,  John  Nelson  and  Father  Cosin  for  ritualism,  and  stirred 
Campion,  in  Elizabeth's  time  ;  up  the  people  to  madness 
and    John    Houghton,    Robert     against  a  most  moderate  ritual. 


Lawrence,  and  Austin  Webster, 
in  1535.  Many  only  reached  the 
first  verse  when  the  end  came. 
In  te,  Domine,  speravi ,  nun  con- 
Latins. — Monday  at  Matins 


He  was  at  once  imprisoned  and 
fined  ;  and  this  was  made  much 
of  in  Parliament  as  "  the  Eng- 
lish counter-Reformation." 
Compline  daily  (verses  1-6). 


(ireeks. — Monday  morning  ;  late  Lent  Evensong 


PSALM  XXXII.     Beafi  quorum. 

BLESSED  is  he  whose  unrighteousness  is  forgiven  : 
and  whose  sin  is  covered. 
?  Blessed  is  the  man  unto  whom  the  Lord  imputeth 
no  sin  :  and  in  whose  spirit  there  is  no  guile. 

45 


Dayd  PSALM  XXXI I  Even iiij^'  Prayer 

3  For  while  I  held  my  tongue  :  my  bones  consumed 
away  through  my  daily  complaining. 

4  For  thy  hand  is  heavy  upon  me  day  and  night  : 
and  my  moisture  is  like  the  drought  in  summer. 

5  I  will  acknowledge  my  sin  unto  thee  :  and  mine 
unrighteousness  have  I  not  hid. 

6  I  said,  I  will  confess  my  sins  unto  the  Lord  :  and 
so  thou  forgavest  the  wickedness  of  my  sin. 

7  For  this  shall  everyone  that  is  godly  make  his 
prayer  unto  thee,  in  a  time  when  thou  mayest  be 
found  :  but  in  the  great  water-floods  they  shall  not 
come  nigh  him. 

8  Thou  art  a  place  to  hide  me  in,  thou  shalt  pre- 
serve me  from  trouble  :  thou  shalt  compass  me  about 
with  songs  of  deliverance. 

9  I  will  inform  thee,  and  teach  thee  in  the  way  wherein 
thou  shalt  go  :  and  I  will  guide  thee  with  mine  eye. 

10  Be  ye  not  like  to  horse  and  mule,  which  have  no 
understanding  :  whose  mouths  must  be  held  with  bit 
and  bridle,  lest  they  fall  upon  thee. 

1 1  Great  plagues  remain  for  the  ungodly  :  but 
whoso  putteth  his  trust  in  the  Lord,  mercy  embraceth 
him  on  everj-  side. 

12  Be  glad,  O  ye  righteous,  and  rejoice  in  tlie  Lord  ! 
and  be  joyful  all  ye  that  are  true  of  heart. 

Tlie   penitential   psalms   are  (1270)  ;  and  Sir  Thomas  More 

vi.,    xxxii.,    xxxvili.,     li. ,    cii.,  read   it,  before   his   execution, 

cxxx. ,  cxliii.  with  his  daughter. 

This    was    the    psalm     pre-         Piers  Ploughman  heard  Hope 

scribed  against  the  deadly  sin  blow  his  horn  with  it,  and  set 

of  pride.  all  the  saints  in  heaven  a  sing- 

St.  Augustine  of  Hippo,  to  ing. 
whom  much  was  forgiven,  used         I'ersez.  Izaak  Walton's  great 

to  repeat    this   weeping.       He  hope  was  that  he  should  attain 

wrote  it  over  his  bed,  that  he  to  this  "  guileless  spirit '' before 

might  see  it  the  first  thing  in  he  died  ;  and,  indeed,  no  man 

the  morning.      At    the  end  of  had  more  of  it. 
his    life,    during   the    siege   of         /Vvjc  4.  On  Nov.  21st,  1693, 

Hippo,  he  had  all  Seven  written  Henry    Wharton    visited     tlie 

in  four  columns  over  his  bed,  meek,      deprived     Archbishop 

gazed  on  them,  read  and  wept  Sancroft,     the     nonjuror,     at 

as  he  lay  dying.  Fressingfield,  and  found   him, 

When  St.  Louis  of  France  though  he  was  old,  poor,  and 
was  dying,  he  repeated  its  dying,  busy  prepaiin.^  Arch- 
verses  in  turn  as  best  he  could  bishop  Laud's  papers  for  pub- 

46 


Rveuittg  Prayer  PSALM  XXXIII  Day  (y 

lication.     "  That   which   came  of  the  verse,  anent  "  the  stout 

nearest   to  a   complaint"  was  skorneful  gentil  man  "  and  his 

that  he  said  this  verse,  but  im-  mule,  who  said  they  both  had 

tnediately  added,  "  Thou,i:;h  He  absolution  at  Paul's  Cross, 

slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  Him."  Luther  declared  that  the  best 

Verse   lo.    One    cannot   but  psalms  were  xxxii.,  li. ,  cxxx., 

remember  here  racy  old  Bishop  and  cxliii.,  which  he  called  the 

Latimei's  third  sermon  before  Pauline  Psalms. 
King  Edward  VI.,  and  his  use 

Liturgical  use. — Ash  Wednesday  mornitig  ;  Introit  on  ist 
Sunday  in  I^nt  (e)  ;  the  second  penitential  psalm. 

Latins. — Monday  Matins  ;  All  Saints'  Dav  ;  \'isitation  of  the 
Sick. 

Greeks. — On  Monday  morning  ;  Mesorion  of  third  hour  :  after 
Baptism. 


PSALM  XXXIII.     £.nillafe,jii.4i. 

REJOICE  in  the  Lord,  O  ye  righteous  :  for  it  be- 
cometh  well  the  just  to  be  thankful. 

2  Praise  the  Lord  with  harp  :  sing  praises  unto  him 
mth  the  lute,  and  instrument  of  ten  strings. 

3  Sing  tmto  the  Lord  a  new  song  :  sing  praises 
lustily  unto  him  with  a  good  courage. 

4  For  the  word  of  the  Lord  is  true  :  and  all  his 
works  are  faithful. 

5  He  loveth  righteousness  and  judgement  :  the  earth 
is  full  of  the  goodness  of  the  Lord. 

6  By  the  word  of  the  Lord  Avere  the  heavens  made  : 
and  all  the  host  of  them  by  the  breath  of  his  mouth. 

7  He  gathered  the  waters  of  the  sea  together,  as  it 
were  upon  an  heap  :  and  layeth  up  the  deep,  as  in  a 
treasure-house. 

8  Let  all  the  earth  fear  the  Lord  :  stand  in  awe  of 
him,  all  ye  that  dwell  in  the  world. 

9  For  he  spake,  and  it  was  done  :  he  commanded, 
and  it  stood  fast. 

10  The  Lord  bringeth  the  counsel  of  the  heatlien  to 
nought  :  and  maketh  the  devices  of  the  people  to  be  of 
none  effect,  and  casteth  out  the  counsels  of  princes. 

1 1  The  counsel  of  the  Lord  shall  endure  for  ever  : 
and  the  thoughts  of  his  heart  from  generation  to 
generation. 

12  Blessed  are  the  people,  whose  God  is  the  Lord 

47 


Oayd  PSALM   XXXIII  Evcnbig  Prayer 

Jehovah  :  and  blessed  are  the  folk,  that  he  hath  chosen 
to  him  to  be  his  inheritance.  ■■  ,    .    n 

13  The  Lord  looked  down  from  heaven,  and  beheld 
all  the  children  of  men  :  from  the  habitation  of  his 
dweUing  he   eonsidereth  all  them  that   dwell  on  the 

14  He  fashioneth  all  the  hearts  of  them  :  and  under- 
standeth  all  their  works. 

I  5  There  is  no  kin^  that  can  be  saved  liy  the  multi- 
tude of  an  host  :  neither  is  any  mighty  man  delivered 
by  much  strength. 

16  \  horse  is  counted  but  a  vain  thing  to  save  a 
man  :  neither  shall  he  deliver  any  man  by  his  great 
strength.  , 

17  Behold,  the  eve  of  the  Lord  is  upon  them  that 
fear  huii  :  and  upoii  them  that  put  their  trust  m  his 

"^78"To  deliver  their   soul  from  death  :  and  to  feed 
them  in  the  time  of  dearth.  ,       ,      t      1     * 

19  Our  soul  hath  patiently  tarried  for  the  Lord  :  tor 
he  is  our  help,  and  our  shield. 

20  For  our  heart  shall  rejoice  in  him  :  because  we 
have  hoped  in  his  holy  Name. 

21  Let  thy  merciful  kindness,  O  Lord,  be  upon  us  : 
like  as  we  do  put  our  trust  in  thee. 

St.  Augustine  fixed  this  as  a  then..  The  mysteriousness  of 
hvmn  for  martyrs.  the  decachord,  regarded  as  the 

Verse '2  It  is  probably  to  type  of  a  heavenly  instrument, 
this  verse  we  owe  the  fact  that  kept  the  imagmaiion  and  in- 
St  Gregory  allowed  the  use  vention  on  the  alert,  and  pos- 
of'  organs  in  the  Western  sibly  resulted  m  that  series  of 
Church,  and  St.  Thomas  instruments,  the  last  of  which 
Aquinas     did     not      condemn     is  the  piano. 

Liturgical  «.«•.— Introit  for  Wliit  Sunday  (e). 

Z.fl^//'I —Monday  morning  ;  for  many  Martyrs. 

G/wX-j.— Monday  morning. 

PSALM  XXX IV.     Benedicam  Domino. 

I\VILL  alwaygive  thanks  unto  the  Lord  :  his  praise 
shall  ever  be  in  my  mouth.  ,      ^      :■      1 

2  My  soul  shall  make  her  boast  in  the  Lord  :  tlie 
humble  shall  hear  thereof,  and  be  glad. 
48 


Evening  Prayer  PSAI-M  XXX IV  Day  6 

3  O  praise  the  Lonl  with  inc  :  and  let  i;s  maf^nify 
his  name  toj^ether. 

4  I  sought  the  Lord,  and  he  heard  nie  :  yea,  he 
dehvered  me  ont  of  all  my  fear. 

5  They  had  an  eye  unto  him,  and  were  lightened  : 
and  their  faces  were  not  ashamed. 

6  Lo,  the  poor  crieth,  and  the  Lord  heareth  him  :  yea, 
and  savcth  him  out  of  all  his  troubles. 

7  The  angel  of  the  Lord  tarrieth  round  about  them 
that  fear  him  :  and  delivereth  them. 

8  O  taste,  and  see,  how  gracious  the  Lord  is  :  blessed 
is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  him. 

9  0  fear  the  Lord,  ye  that  are  his  saints  :  for  they 
that  fear  him  lack  nothing. 

10  The  lions  do  lack,  and  suffer  himger  :  but  they 
who  seek  the  Lord  shall  want  no  manner  of  thing  that 
is  good. 

1 1  Come,  ye  children,  and  hearken  unto  me  :  I  will 
teach  you  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 

12  AVhat  man  is  he  that  lusteth  to  live  :  and  would 
fain  see  good  days  ? 

13  Keep  thy  tongue  from  evil  :  and  thy  hps,  that 
they  speak  no  guile. 

14  Eschew  evil,  and  do  good  :  seek  peace,  and 
ensue  it. 

1 5  The  eN'es  of  the  Lord  are  over  the  righteous  :  and 
his  ears  are  open  unto  their  prayers. 

16  The  countenance  of  the  Lord  is  against  them  that 
do  evil  :  to  root  out  the  remembrance  of  them  from  the 
earth. 

17  The  righteous  cry,  and  the  Lord  heareth  them  : 
and  delivereth  them  out  of  all  their  troubles. 

18  The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  them  that  are  of  aeon- 
trite  heart  :  and  will  save  such  as  be  of  an  humble 
spirit. 

1 9  Great  are  the  troubles  of  the  righteous  :  but  the 
Lord  delivereth  him  out  of  all. 

20  He  keepeth  aU  his  bones  :  so  that  not  one  of  them 
is  broken. 

2 1  But  misfortune  shall  slay  the  ungodly  :  and  they 
that  hate  the  righteous  shall  be  desolate. 

22  The  Lord  delivereth  the  souls  of  his  servants  :  and 

49  E 


Day  7  PSALM  XXXV  Mornitig  Prayer 

all   they   that   put   their    trust   in   him   shall   not    be 
destitute. 

St.    Theodore,    the    Martyr,  ment  of  his  approaching  end, 

was  scourged  to  death  singing  walked  out  with   some   of  the 

this  psalm.  brethren,  and  thanked  God,  as 

Whatever  be  the  weakness  of  he  looked  in  at  the  granary,  for 

Tate  and  Brady's  version,  their  the   corn    he    had    been    able 

hymn   of    "  Through    all    the  to     lay     up     for     the    winter, 

changing   scenes  of  life"   (Ps.  Tlien   he   began   to  transcribe 

xxxiv. )  is  a  very  noble  one.  Ps.     xx.xiv.,     but     coming     to 

Verse  5.  When  Bishop  Fisher  the   tenth  verse,   remarked    he 

was  on  the  scaffold,  the  south-  might  as  well  stop  there.    "The 

east  sun   shined  very  brightly  next  words   belong,"   said   he, 

upon  him,  and  he  was  heard  "rather  to  my  successor  than 

to    say,    Acceditc    ad    eurn    et  to  myself."     At  the   midnight 

illuminamini  et  fades  vestrcs  Matins  he  was   found   on   the 

MOW  confundentur.  altar    step   dying    indeed,    but 

Verse  10.     This   is   the  last  smiling  and  blessing  the  breth- 

verse   transcribed    by   St.    Co-  ren,  and  "  doubtless  seeing  the 

lumba   on    Saturday,    June   8,  lioly   angels    coming    to   meet 

597  A.D.     He  had  a  presenti-  him." 

Latins, — Monday  Matins  ;  for  many  Martyrs  ;  All  Saints'  Day. 
Greeks. — Monday  morning. 


PSALM  XXXV.     Judka  Domine. 

PLEAD  thou  my  cause,   0  Lord,  with  them  that 
strive  with  me  :  and  fight  thou  against  them  that 
fight  against  me. 

2  Lay  hand  upon  the  shield  and  buckler  :  and 
stand  v;p  to  help  me. 

3  Bring  forth  the  spear,  and  stop  the  way  against 
them  that  persecute  me  :  say  unto  my  soul,  I  am  thy 
salvation. 

4  Let  them  be  confounded,  and  put  to  shame,  that 
seek  after  my  soul  :  let  them  be  turned  back,  and 
brought  to  confusion,  that  imagine  mischief  for  me. 

5  Let  them  be  as  the  dust  before  the  wind  :  and  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  scattering  them. 

6  Let  their  way  be  dark  and  slippery  :  and  let  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  persecute  them. 

7  For  they  liave  privily  laid  their  net  to  destroy  me 
without  a  cause  :  yea,  even  witliout  a  cause  have  they 
made  a  pit  for  my  soul. 

50 


M or niiis;  Prayer  PSALM   XXXV  Day  ^ 

8  Let  a  siuldon  (lostructioii  come  upon  him  miawares, 
ami  his  net,  that  he  hath  laid  privily,  catch  liimself  : 
tliat  he  may  fall  into  his  own  miscliief. 

9  And,  my  soul,  be  joyful  in  the  Lord  :  it  shall 
rejoice  in  liis  salvation. 

10  All  my  l)ones  shall  say,  "Lord,  who  is  like  unto 
thee,  who  dolivereth  the  poor  from  him  that  is  too 
strong  for  him  :  yea,  the  poor,  and  liim  that  is  in 
misery  from  him  that  spoileth  him  ?" 

1 1  False  witnesses  did  rise  up  :  they  laid  to  my 
chax'ge  things  that  I  knew  not. 

12  They  rewarded  me  evil  for  good  :  to  the  great 
discomfort  of  my  soul. 

13  Nevertheless,  when  they  were  sick,  I  put  on  sack- 
cloth, and  humbled  my  soul  with  fasting  :  and  my 
prayer  shall  turn  into  mine  own  bosom. 

14  I  behaved  myself  as  though  it  had  been  my 
friend,  or  my  brother  :  I  went  heavily,  as  one  that 
mourneth  for  his  mother. 

15  But  in  mine  adversity  they  rejoiced,  and  gathered 
themselves  together  :  yea,  the  very  abjects  came  to- 
gether against  me  unawares,  making  mouths  at  me, 
and  ceased  not. 

16  With  the  flatterers  were  busy  mockers  :  who 
gnashed  upon  me  with  their  teeth. 

1 7  Lord,  how  long  wilt  thou  look  upon  this  :  O  de- 
liver my  soul  from  the  calamities  which  the^-  bring  on 
me,  and  my  darling  from  the  lions. 

18  So  will  I  give  thee  thanks  in  the  great  congrega- 
tion :  I  will  praise  thee  among  much  people. 

19  O  let  not  them  that  are  mine  enemies  triumph 
over  me  ungodly  :  neither  let  them  wink  with  their 
eyes  that  hate  me  without  a  cause. 

20  And  why?  their  communing  is  not  for  peace  : 
but  they  imagine  deceitful  words  against  them  that  are 
quiet  in  the  land. 

2 1  They  gaped  upon  me  with  their  mouths,  and  said  : 
"  Fie  on  thee,  lie  on  thee,  we  saw  it  witli  our  eyes." 

22  This  thou  hast  seen,  O  Lord  :  hold  not  thy 
tongue,  then,  go  not  far  from  me,  O  Lord. 

23  Awake,  and  stand  up  to  judge  my  quarrel  :  avenge 
thou  my  cause,  my  God,  and  my  Lord. 

51 


Day  J  PSALM  XXXVI  Morning  Prayer 

24  Judge  me,  0  Lord  my  God,  according  to  thy 
righteousness  :  aud  let  them  not  triumph  over  me. 

25  Let  them  not  say  in  theii*  hearts,  "•  There,  there, 
so  would  we  have  if"  :  neither  let  them  say,  "\N"e  have 
devoured  him." 

26  Let  them  be  put  to  confusion  and  shame  together, 
that  rejoice  at  my  trouble  :  let  them  be  clothed  with 
rebuke  and  dishonour,  that  boast  themselves  against  me. 

27  Let  them  be  glad  and  rejoice,  that  favour  my 
righteous  dealing  :  yea,  let  them  say  alway,  ''  Blessed 
be  the  Lord,  who  hath  pleasure  in  the  prosperity  of  his 
servant." 

28  And  as  for  my  tongue,  it  shall  be  talking  of  thy 
righteousness  :  and  of  thy  praise  all  the  day  long. 

"  What  is  there  necessary  for  Let  there  be  any  grief  or  dis- 
man  to  know,  which  the  Psalms  ease  incident  unto  the  soul  of 
are  not  able  to  teach?  They  man,  any  wound  or  sickness 
are,  10  beginners,  an  easy  and  named,  for  which  there  is  not 
familiar  introduction  ;  a  mighty  in  this  treasure-house  a  present 
augmentation  of  all  virtue  and  comfortable  remedy  at  all  times 
knowledge,  in  such  as  are  en-  ready  to  be  found.  Hereof  it 
tared  before  ;  a  strong  contir-  is  that  we  covet  to  make  the 
mation  to  the  most  perfect  Psalms  esjjecially  familiar  unto 
amongst  others.  Heroical  us  all '"  (Hooker), 
magnanimity,  exquisite  justice,  This  celebrated  passage  is  a 
grave  moderation,  exact  wis-  witness  to  the  power  of  the 
dom,  patience  unfeigned,  un-  Psalter  in  yet  anether  way  ;  for 
wearied  patience,  the  mysteries  though  it  is  quoted  even  by  the 
of  God,  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  extremest  Protestant,  it  was 
the  terrors  of  wrath,  the  com-  originally  derived  from  the  ex- 
forts  of  grace,  the  works  of  position  of  Torquemada,  the 
Providence  over  this  world,  Dominican  Inquisitor(  1420-98). 
and  the  promised  joys  of  the  /Vr.-e-ig.  The  words,  "  They 
world  which  is  to  come,  all  liated  me  without  a  cause,"  are 
good  necessarily  to  be  either  quoted  by  Christ  in  His  last 
known,  or  done,  or  had,  this  discourses  to  His  disciples  (St. 
one  celestial  fountain  yieldeth.  John  xv.  25V 
Latins. — Monday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Monday  morning. 

PSALM  XXXYI.     Dixit  injvsius. 

MY  heart   showeth  me  the  wickedness  of   the  un- 
godly :  that  there  is  no  fear  of  God  before  his 
eyes. 

2  For  he  flattereth  himself  in  his  own  sight  :  until 
his  abominable  sin  be  found  out. 

3  The  words  of  his  mouth  are  unrighteous  and  full 

52 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  XXXVl  IXiy  j 

of  deceit  :  lie  hath  left  off  to  behave  himself  wisely, 
and  to  do  good. 

4  He  iinagineth  mischief  upon  his  bed,  and  hath  set 
himself  in  no  good  way  :  neither  doth  he  abhor  any- 
thing that  is  evil. 

5  Thy  mercy,  0  Lord,  reacheth  unto  the  heavens  : 
and  thy  faithfulness  unto  the  clouds. 

6  Thy  righteousness  standeth  like  the  sti'ong  moun- 
tains :  thy  judgements  are  like  the  great  deep. 

7  Thou,  Lord,  shalt  save  both  man  and  beast ;  How 
excellent  is  thy  mercy,  O  God  :  and  the  children  of  men 
shall  put  their  trust  under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings. 

8  They  shall  be  satisfied  with  the  plenteousness  of 
thy  house  :  and  thou  shalt  give  them  drink  of  thy 
pleasures,  as  out  of  the  river. 

9  For  with  thee  is  the  well  of  life  :  and  in  thy  light 
shall  we  see  light. 

10  O  continue  forth  thy  loving-kindness  unto  them 
that  know  thee  :  and  thy  righteousness  unto  them  that 
are  true  of  heart. 

1 1  O  let  not  the  foot  of  pride  come  against  me  :  and 
let  not  the  hand  of  the  ungodly  cast  me  down. 

12  Tliere  are  they  fallen,  all  that  work  wickedness  : 
they  are  cast  down,  and  shall  not  be  able  to  stand. 

Verse  5.  Mr.  Ruskin  uses  region  which  we  can  neither 
this  verse  to  instance  the  fact  see  nor  know  ;  and  gradually 
that  in  those  psalms  which  from  the  close  realization  of  a 
most  distinctly  set  forth  the  living  God  who  '  maketh  the 
power  of  God,  clouds  and  clouds  His  chariot,'  we  refine 
heavens  are  used  as  inter-  and  explain  ourselves  into  dim 
changeable  words,  and  as  con-  and  distant  suspicion  of  an  in- 
stant revelations  of  Him.  And  active  God,  inhabiting  incon- 
so,  "  by  accepting  the  words  in  ceivable  places,  and  fading  into 
their  simple  sense,  we  are  led  the  multitudinous  formalisms  of 
to  apprehend  the  immediate  the  laws  of  nature." 
presence  of  the  Deity  and  His  I'crse  7.  Piers  Ploughman 
purpose  of  manifesting  Himself  heard  all  the  saints  in  heaven 
as  near  us  whenever  the  storm-  sing  this  at  once,  for  joy  over 
cloud  stoops  upon  its  course ;  sinners  that  repent, 
while,  by  our  vague  and  inac-  Verse  9.  The  expression 
curate  acceptance  of  the  words.  Lumen  de  Liimine  (Light  of 
we  remove  the  idea  of  His  Light)  in  the  Nicene  Creed  was 
presence   far   from    us   into    a  adopted  from  this  verse. 

Latins. — Monday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Monday  morning. 


53 


Day^  PSALM  XXXVII  Evening  Prayer 


PSALM  XXXVII.     Noli  mmuUn. 

FRET  not  thyself  because  of  the  nngodlj'  :  neither 
be  thou  envious  against  the  evil  doers. 

2  For  they  shall  soon  be  cut  down  like  the  grass  : 
and  be  withered  even  as  the  green  herb. 

3  Put  thou  thy  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  be  doing 
good  :  dwell  in  the  land,  and  verily  thou  shalt  be 
fed. 

4  Delight  thou  in  the  Lord  :  and  he  shall  give  thee 
thy  heart's  desire. 

5  Commit  thj^  way  unto  the  Lord,  and  put  thy  trust 
in  him  :  and  he  shall  bring  it  to  pass. 

6  He  shall  make  thy  righteousness  as  clear  as  the 
light  :  and  thy  jiist  dealing  as  the  noonday. 

7  Hold  thee  still  m  the  Lord,  and  abide  patiently 
upon  him  :  but  grieve  not  thyself  at  him,  whose  way 
doth  prosper,  against  the  man  that  doeth  after  evil 
counsels. 

8  Leave  off  from  wrath,  and  let  go  displeasure  :  fret 
not  thyself,  else  shalt  thou  be  moved  to  do  evil. 

9  AVicked  doers  shall  be  rooted  out  :  and  they 
that  patiently  abide  the  Lord,  those  shall  inherit  the 
land. 

10  Yet  a  little  while,  and  the  ungodly  shall  be  clean 
gone  :  thou  shalt  look  after  his  place,  and  he  shall  be 
away. 

I  \  But  the  meek-spirited  shall  possess  the  earth  : 
and  shall  be  refreshed  in  the  multitude  of  peace. 

12  The  ungodly  seeketh  counsel  against  the  just  : 
and  gnasheth  upon  him  with  his  teeth. 

13  The  Lord  shall  laugh  him  to  scorn  :  for  he  hath 
seen  that  his  day  is  coming. 

14  The  ungodly  have  drawn  out  the  sword,  and  have 
bent  their  bow  :  to  cast  down  the  poor  and  needy,  and 
to  slay  such  as  are  of  a  right  conversation. 

1 5  Their  sword  shall  go  through  theii-  own  heart  : 
and  their  bow  shall  be  broken. 

16  A  small  thing  that  the  righteous  liath  :  is  better 
than  great  riclies  of  tlie  ungodly. 

17  For  tlie  anus  of  the  ungodly  shall  be  broken  : 
and  the  Lord  upholdeth  the  righteous. 

54 


livening  Prayer  PSALM  XXXVII  Day  7 

18  The  Lord  knoweth  the  days  of  the  godly  :  and 
their  inheritance  shall  endure  for  ever. 

19  Tliey  shall  not  be  confounded  in  the  perilous 
time  :  and  in  the  days  of  dearth  they  shall  have 
enough. 

20  As  for  the  ungodly,  they  shall  perish  ;  and  the 
enemies  of  the  Lord  shall  consume  as  the  fat  of 
lambs  :  yea,  even  as  the  smoke,  shall  they  consume 
away. 

21  The  ungodly  borroweth,  and  payeth  not  again: 
but  the  righteovis  is  merciful,  and  liberal. 

22  Such  as  are  blessed  of  God  shall  possess  the 
land  :  and  t\\Qy  that  are  cursed  of  him  shall  be  rooted 
out. 

23  The  Lord  ordereth  a  good  man's  going  :  and 
maketh  his  way  acceptable  to  himself. 

24  Though  he  fall,  he  shall  not  be  cast  away  :  for 
the  Lord  upholdeth  him  with  his  hand. 

25  I  have  been  young,  and  now  am  old  :  and  yet 
saw  I  never  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging 
their  bread. 

26  The  righteous  is  ever  merciful,  and  lendeth  :  and 
his  seed  is  blessed. 

27  Flee  from  evil,  and  do  the  thing  that  is  good  : 
and  dwell  for  evermore. 

28  For  the  Lord  lovcth  the  thing  that  is  right  :  he 
forsaketh  not  his  that  be  godly,  but  they  are  preserved 
for  ever. 

29  The  unrighteous  shall  be  punished  :  as  for  the 
seed  of  the  ungodly,  it  shall  be  rooted  out. 

30  The  righteous  shall  inherit  the  land  :  and  dwell 
therein  for  ever. 

31  The  mouth  of  the  righteous  is  exercised  in 
wisdom  :  and  his  tongue  will  be  talking  of  judgement. 

32  The  law  of  his  God  is  in  his  heart  :  and  his 
goings  shall  not  slide. 

^;^  The  ungodly  seeth  the  righteous  :  and  seeketh 
occasion  to  slay  him. 

34  The  Lord  will  not  leave  him  in  his  hand  :  nor 
condemn  him  when  he  is  judged. 

35  Hope  thou  in  the  Lord,  and  keep  his  way,  and  he 
shall  promote  thee,  that  thou  shalt  possess  the  land  : 
when  the  ungodly  shall  perish,  thou  shalt  see  it. 

55 


Day  J 


PSALM  XXXVII 


Evening  Prayer 


36  I  myself  have  seen  the  ungodly  m  great  power  : 
and  flourishing  like  a  green  bay-tree. 

37  I  went  by,  and  lo,  he  was  gone  :  I  sought  him,  but 
his  place  could  nowhere  be  found. 

38  Keep  innocency,  and  take  heed  unto  the  thing 
that  is  right  :  for  that  shall  bring  a  man  peace  at  the 
last. 

39  As  for  the  transgressors,  they  shall  perish  to- 
gether :  and  the  end  of  the  ungodly  is,  they  shall  be 
rooted  out  at  the  last. 

40  But  the  salvation  of  the  righteous  cometh  of 
the  Lord  :  who  is  also  their  strength  in  the  time  of 
trouble. 

41  And  the  Lord  shall  stand  by  them,  and  save 
them  :  he  shall  deliver  them  from  the  ungodly,  and 
shall  save  them,  because  they  put  their  trust  in  him. 

Verse  3.  Spera  in  Domino.  But  what  do  I  listen  to  the 
Don  Manuel  of  Portugal  took 
this  as  his  motto,  and  spelt  it 
spkera.  Hence  all  the  churches 
of  his  time  are  capped  by  a 
sphere,  for  hope,  instead  of  a 
cross. 

Verse  5.  A  favourite  verse 
of  Dr.  Livingstone,  the  great 
African  traveller. 

Verse  11.  Fuller's  "mixed 
contemplation"  on  this,  which 
he  calls  "Good  Auguries," com- 
forted many  distressed  souls  in 
the  confusions  and  hopes  which 
came  with  the  decline  of  the 
Commonwealth.  "  I  was  much 
affected  with  reading  that  dis- 
tich in  Ovid,  as  having  some- 
thing extraordinary  therein  : 

'  Tarpeia    quondam    prcedixit 

ab  nice  cor  nix, 
Est    bene    non    pot  nit    dice  re 
dixit  erit. ' 


'  The  crow  sometimes  did   sit 

and  spell  on  top  of  Tarpie 

Hall; 
She  could  not  say.  All's  well ! 

all's    well !     but    said.    It 

shall !  it  shall !' 


to 
language  of  the  crow,  whose 
black  colour  hath  a  cast  of  hell 
therein,  in  superstitious  sooth- 
saying ?  Let  us  hearken  to 
what  the  Dove  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  saith,  promising  God's 
servants  that,  though  the  pre- 
sent times  be  bad,  the  future 
will  be  better.  Ps.  xxxvii.  11  : 
'The  meek  shall  inherit  the 
earth,  and  shall  delight  them- 
selves in  the  abundance  of 
peace.'  " 

Verse  2^.  One  cannot  but 
remember  here  Thackeray's  pic- 
ture in  "The  Newcomes"  of  the 
old  colonel  in  the  (jrey  Friars' 
Almshouse,  in  the  black  gown 
of  the  pensioners  and  the  order 
of  the  Bath  on  his  breast,  stand- 
ing among  the  Poor  Brethren 
and  repeating  the  responses  of 
the  Founder's  psalm. 

Verse  24.  This  was  Henry  de 
Blois,  the  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester's, comment,  when  he 
heard  of  the  martyrdom  of  St. 
Thomas  of  Canterbury  ;  as  it 
was  St.  Gregory  Nazianzen's 
when  his  sister  Gorgonia  died. 


56 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  XXXVIII  Day  Z 

Verse  25.     Piers  Ploughman  poor,  used  often  to  say,  "  If  it 

conclucied  from  this  that  "the  seems  to  you  impossible  to  keep 

Book  banneth  bej,'gary."  many     commandments,     then 

I'ersfzy.   Benedict  of  Aniane  keep  only  this  one  little  com- 

(821    A.n.),    who    braved    the  mandnicnt,    'Flee    from    evil, 

hostility  of  the  nobles   by  his  and     do     the     thing    that     is 

fearless    championship   of    the  good. ' " 

Latins. — Monday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Monday  moyiing. 


PSALM  XXXVIIL     Domine,  ve  infum-e. 

PUT   me  not  to  rebuke,  0  Lord,  in  thine  anger  : 
neither  chasten  me  in  thy  lieavy  displeasure. 

2  For  thine  arrows  stick  fast  in  me  :  and  thy  hand 
presseth  me  sore. 

3  Tlaere  is  no  health  in  my  flesh,  because  of  thy  dis- 
pleasure :  neither  is  there  any  rest  in  my  bones,  bj' 
reason  of  my  sin. 

4  For  my  ■\\-ickednesses  are  gone  over  my  head  :  and 
are  like  a  sore  burden,  too  heavy  for  me  to  bear. 

5  My  wounds  stink,  and  are  corrupt  :  through  my 
foolishness. 

6  I  am  brought  into  so  great  trouble  and  misery  : 
that  I  go  mourning  all  the  day  long. 

7  For  my  loins  are  filled  with  a  sore  disease  :  and 
there  is  no  whole  part  in  my  body. 

8  I  am  feeble,  and  sore  smitten  :  I  have  roared  for 
the  very  disquietness  of  my  heart. 

9  Lord,  thou  knowest  all  my  desire  :  and  my  groan- 
ing is  not  hid  from  thee. 

10  My  heart  panteth,  my  strength  hath  failed  me  : 
and  the  sight  of  mine  eyes  is  gone  from  me. 

1 1  My  lovers  and  my  neighbours  did  stand  looking 
upon  my  trouble  :  and  my  kinsmen  stood  afar  off. 

12  They  also  that  sought  after  my  life  laid  snares  for 
me  :  and  they  that  went  about  to  do  me  evil  talked  of 
wickedaiess,  and  imagined  deceit  all  the  day  long. 

13  As  for  me,  I  was  like  a  deaf  naan,  and  heai'd  not  : 
and  as  one  that  is  dumb,  who  doth  not  open  his 
mouth. 

1 4  I  became  even  as  a  man  that  heareth  not  :  and  in 
whose  mouth  are  no  reproofs. 

57 


DayZ 


PSALM  XXXVIII 


Morning  Prayer 


15  For  in  thee,  0  Lord,  have  I  put  my  trust  :  thou 
shalt  answer  for  nie,  O  Lord  my  God. 

16  I  have  required  that  they,  even  mine  enemies, 
should  not  triumph  over  me  :  for  when  my  foot  shpped, 
they  rejoiced  greatly  against  me. 

17  And  I,  truly,  am  set  in  the  plague  :  and  my 
heaviness  is  ever  in  my  sight. 

18  For  I  will  confess  my  wickedness  :  and  be  sorry 
for  my  sin. 

19  But  mine  enemies  live,  and  are  mighty  :  and  they 
that  hate  me  wrongfully  are  many  in  number. 

20  They  also  that  reward  evil  for  good  are  against 
me  :  becaiise  I  follow  the  thing  that  good  is. 

21  Forsake  me  not,  0  Lord  my  God  :  be  not  thou 
far  from  me. 

22  Haste  thee  to  help  me  :  0  Lord  God  of  my  sal- 
vation. 


The  third  penitential  psalm. 
These  are,  vi.,  xxxii.,  xxxviii., 
li. ,  cii.,  cxxx.,  and  cxliii.  This 
is  the  antidote  against  the 
deadly  sin  of  gluttony  (contra 
Gulam). 

St.  Louis  of  France,  when 
death  was  at  hand,  "received 
the  last  sacraments  of  the 
Church  with  a  full  conscious- 
ness, as  appeared  by  this,  that 
while  they  were  anointing  him 
with  holy  oil  and  saying  the 
seven  psalms,  he  repeated  the 
verses  in  his  turn." 

Sir  Thomas  Wyatt,  "  the  de- 
light of  the  Muses  and  of  man- 
kind," the  poet  of  the  dawn  of 
English  poetry, 
"Amid  great   storms,  whom 
grace  assured  so 
To  live  upright  and  smile  at 
fortune's  choice," 
(1503-1542)  wrote  in  his  youth 
a  book  of  "  the  vii.  penytentiall 
psalmes,  drawen  into  Englyshe 
meter,"  which  Sir  John  Harring- 
ton edited  and  dedicated  to  the 
brother    of    Queen    Catharine 
Parr.     Sir  Thomas  was  a  close 


student  of  Dante,  He  depicts 
David  singing  this  psalm  to  his 
harp  in  a  cave,  with  great  and 
many  tears  — 

"  But   who  had   been  without 
the  cave's  mouth, 
And  heard  the  tears  and 
sighs  that  him  did  strain, 
He  would  have  sworn,  there 
had  out  of  the  south, 
A  lukewarm  wind  brought 
forth  a  smoky  rain." 

Edmund  Spenser  also  wrote 
a  paraphrase  upon  the  peni- 
tential psalms,  which  is  lost. 

\'eric  15.  "Thou  shalt  an- 
swer for  me,  O  Lord  my  God," 
suggested  to  George  Herbert 
his  matchless  and  most  charac- 
teristic poem,  "  The  Quip,"  the 
burden  of  which  is — 

"Thou  shalt  answer.  Lord, 
for  me."  The  World  with 
Beauty,  Money,  Glory,  and  Wit 
in  turn  jeered  at  the  poet — 
"  Yet  when  the  houre  of  Thy 
designe 

To  answer  these  fine  things 
shall  come, 


58 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  XXXIX  Day  ^ 

Speak  not  at  large,  say,  I  am  Tlie  same  text  was  one  of  the 

thine,  last  recorded  sayings  of  John 

And    then    tliey    have    their  Wesley, 
answer  home." 

Liturgical  use. — Ash  Wednesday  morning. 

Latins. — Monday  Matins  ;    Good  Friday  Matins  ;  Visitation 

of  the  Sick. 
Greeks. — Monday  evening;  Dawn  in  Lent 

PSALM  XXXIX.     J)\x\,  cmfodiam. 

I  SAID,  "  I  will  take  heed  to  my  ways  :  that  I  offend 
not  in  my  tongue. 

2  '"I  will  keep  my  mouth  as  it  were  with  a  bridle  : 
■\\hile  the  ungodly  is  in  my  sight." 

3  I  held  my  tongue,  and  spake  nothing  :  I  kept 
silence,  yea,  even  from  good  words ;  but  it  was  pain 
and  grief  to  me. 

4  My  heart  was  hot  within  me,  and  while  I  was  thus 
iimsing  the  lire  kindled  :  and  at  the  last  I  spake  with 
my  tongue  ; 

5  "  Lord,  let  me  know  mine  end.  and  the  number  of 
my  days  :  that  I  may  be  certified  how  long  I  have  to 
live. 

6  "  Behold,  thou  hast  made  my  days  as  it  were  a  span 
long  :  and  mine  age  is  even  as  nothing  in  respect  of 
thee  ;  and  verily  every  man  living  is  altogether  vanity. 

7  "  For  man  walketh  in  a  vain  shadow,  and  dis- 
qtiieteth  himself  in  vain  :  he  heapeth  up  riches,  and 
cannot  tell  who  shall  gather  them. 

8  "  And  now,  Lord,  what  is  my  hope  :  truly  my  hope 
is  even  in  thee. 

9  "  Deliver  me  from  all  mine  offences  :  and  make  me 
not  a  rebuke  unto  the  foolish. 

10  "I  became  dumb,  and  opened  not  my  mouth  : 
for  it  was  thy  doing. 

11  "  Take  thy  plague  away  from  me  :  I  am  even 
consumed  by  means  of  thy  heavy  hand. 

12  "  When  thou  with  rebvikes  dost  chasten  man  for 
sin,  thou  makest  his  beauty  to  consume  away,  like  as  it 
were  a  niotli  frettmg  a  garment  :  every  man  therefore 
is  but  vanity. 

13  "Hear  my  prayer,  O  Lord,  and  with  thine  ears 
consider  my  calling  :  hold  not  thy  peace  at  luy  tears. 

59 


Day  8  PSALM  XL  Morning  Prayer 

14  "  For  I  am  a  stranger  with  thee  :  and  a  sojourner, 
as  all  my  fathers  were. 

15  "O  spare  me  a  little,  that  I  may  recover  my 
strength  :  before  I  go  hence,  and  be  no  more  seen." 

Archbishop    Leighton's     fa-  that    this  verse  contained    the 

voiirite  psahii.  secret    of    all    poetry  —  strong 

St.  Ambrose  was  stirred  up  feeling,  meditative  reason,  and 

by  this  psalm  to  write  his  book  lastly,  expression, 
of  Offices,  being  much  moved  Verse\o.  John  Calvin  passed 

by  its  holy  tone,  patience,  apt  the  last  of  his   days   "almost 

speech,    and   its    contempt   of  wholly  in  prayers.     His  voice 

riches,    which    is   the    founda-  was  chokt  with  the  asthma,  and 

tion  of  all  virtue.  his    eyes,    which    to    the    end 

Verse  i.     Socrates  Scholas-  shone   clearly,    were  raised   to 

ticus  tells  us  that  Isidore  gave  heaven,   and   his  face   was   as 

this  as  the  first  lesson  to  St.  composed    as    the    ardour    of 

Pambo.     After  nineteen  yearn  prayer  allowed.     Often   in  his 

the  pupil  complained   that  he  pain  he  groaned  out    David's 

had  not  yet  been  able  to  learn  words,  '  I  became  dumb,  Lord, 

it,  in  spite  of  the  most  diligent  for   it    was   Thy    doing,'    and 

study  ;  so  that  he  was  not  yet  sometimes  Isaiah's  '  I  mourned 

ready   for   the   second    lesson,  as  a  dove.'    He  was  also  heard 

See,  also,  Browning's    "Joco-  to  say,  'Thou  affiictest  me,  O 

seria."  Lord,    but   it   is   fully   enough 

Verse  4.     Keble  used  to  say  for  me  that  it  is  Thy  hand.'  " 

Liturgical  use. — Burial  psalm. 
Latins. — Tuesday  morning. 
Greeks. — Monday  evening. 

PSALM  XL.     Expedans  expedavi. 

I  WAITED  patiently'  for  the  Lord  :  and  he  inclined 
unto  me,  and  heard  my  calling. 

2  He  brought  me  also  out  of  the  horrible  pit,  out  of 
the  mire  and  clay  :  and  set  my  feet  upon  the  rock,  and 
ordered  my  goings. 

3  And  he  hath  put  a  new  song  m  my  mouth  :  even 
a  thanksgiving  unto  our  God. 

4  Many  shall  see  it,  and  fear  :  and  sliall  put  tlioir 
trust  in  the  Lord. 

5  Blessed  is  the  man  that  hath  set  his  hope  in  the 
Lord  :  and  turned  not  unto  the  proud,  and  to  such  as 
go  about  with  lies. 

6  0  Lord,  my  God,  great  are  the  wondrous  works 
which  thou   hast  done,   like  as  be  also  thy  thoughts 

60 


Moi-ning  Prayer  PSALM  XL  Day  8 

which  are  to  us-warcl  :  and  yet  there  is  no  man  that 
ordereth  them  unto  thee. 

7  If  I  should  declare  them,  and  speak  of  them  :  they 
should  be  more  than  I  am  able  to  express. 

8  Sacrifice,  and  meat  offering,',  thou  wouldest  not  : 
but  mine  ears  hast  thou  opened. 

9  Burnt  offerings,  and  sacrifice  for  sin,  hast  thou  not 
required  :  then  said  I,  "  Lo,  I  come. 

10  "  In  the  volume  of  the  book  it  is  written  of  me, 
that  I  should  fulfil  thy  will,  O  my  God  :  I  am  content 
to  do  it ;  yea,  thy  law  is  within  my  heart." 

1 1  I  have  declared  thj'  righteousness  in  the  great 
congregation  :  lo,  I  will  not  refrain  my  lips,  O  Lord, 
and  that  thou  knowest. 

1 2  I  have  not  hid  thy  righteousness  within  my  heart  : 
my  talk  hath  been  of  thy  truth,  and  of  thy  salvation. 

13  I  have  not  kept  back  thy  loving  mercy  and  truth  : 
from  the  great  congregation. 

14  Withdraw  not  thou  thy  mercy  from  me,  0  Lord  : 
let  thy  loving-kindness  and  thj-  truth  alway  preserve  me. 

1 5  For  innumerable  troubles  are  come  about  me  ;  my 
sins  have  taken  such  hold  upon  me  that  I  am  not  able 
to  look  up  :  j-ea,  they  are  more  in  number  than  the 
hairs  of  my  head,  and  my  heart  hath  failed  me. 

16  O  Lord,  let  it  be  thy  pleasure  to  deliver  me  :  make 
haste,  O  Lord,  to  help  me. 

17  Let  them  be  ashamed,  and  confounded  together, 
that  seek  after  my  soul  to  destroy  it  :  let  them  be 
driven  backward,  and  put  to  rebuke,  that  wish  me 
evil. 

18  Let  them  be  desolate,  and  rewarded  with  shame  : 
that  say  mito  me,  "  Fie  upon  thee,  lie  upon  thee." 

1 9  Let  all  those  that  seek  thee  be  joyful  and  glad  in 
thee  :  and  let  such  as  love  thy  salvation  say  alway, 
"The  Lord  be  praised." 

20  As  for  me,  I  am  poor  and  need}-  :  but  the  Lord 
careth  for  me. 

2 1  Thou  art  mj'  helper  and  redeemer  :  make  no  long 
tarrying,  0  my  God. 

Among  the  smallest  books  in  were  published  in  Birmingham 

the   British    Museum  are    two  in   1855,  and  contain  one  this 

little    volumes    the    size    of    a  psalm  and  one  Ps.  cxlv.     The 

postage  stamp  (64mo).     They  words  are  clearly  printed,  but 

61 


Days  PSALM  XLI  Evening  Prayer 

without  note  or  comment.    The  and  obtained  his  prayer,  that 

catalogue   number   is   1221.    i.  threescore  and  ten  of  his  own 

Each   psahn    is   the   cry   of    a  years  should  be  given  to  this 

poor  man,  and  the  little  volumes  spirit,    and     thus     Adam     fell 

are  but  drifiweed,  which  tells  short  of  one  thousand  years  by 

of    a   whole    continent  —  small  David's  seventy.   The  story  not 

tokens  of   the   love  which    the  only  "shows  the  high  opinion 

unknown    many  have  had   for  that  the  Rabbins  entertained  of 

these  poems.  the  sweet   Psalmist  of  Israel," 

There  is  a  beautiful  legend  but  also  tells  that  the  Psalms 

of   David,  quoted   by   the   old  seemed  to  them  to  fulfil  human 

Guardian  (No.  138],  from  the  life. 

Rabbins,  that  Adam   saw   the         Verses  i  and  2  were  the  last 

spirits    of    all    his    sons    pass  words  of  St.  Francis  de  Sales, 

before  him.     The  most  beau-  and   to   them    he  added   only 

tiful  of  all,  he  was  told,  was  but  Advesperascit  et  iticlinata   est 

to  live  one  year.     He  prayed  jam  dies. 

Liturgical  use. — Good  Friday  morning. 
Latins.- — Tuesday  Matins  ;  Good  Friday. 
Greeks. — Monday  evening. 


PSALM  XLI.     Beatus  qui  intelligif. 

BLESSED  is  he  that  considereth  the  poor  and  needy  : 
the  Lord  shall  deliver  him  in  the  time  of  trouble. 

2  The  Lord  preserve  him,  and  keep  him  alive,  that 
he  may  be  blessed  upon  earth  :  and  deliver  not  thou 
him  into  the  will  of  his  enemies. 

3  The  Lord  comfort  him,  when  he  lieth  sick  upon 
his  bed  :  make  thou  all  his  bed  in  his  sickness. 

4  I  said,  "  Lord,  be  merciful  unto  me  :  heal  my  soul, 
for  I  have  sinned  against  thee." 

5  Mine  enemies  speak  evil  of  me  :  "  "When  shall  he 
die,  and  his  name  perish?" 

6  And  if  he  come  to  see  me,  he  speaketh  vanity  :  and 
his  heart  conceiveth  falsehood  within  himself,  and  when 
he  Cometh  forth  he  telleth  it. 

7  All  mine  enemies  whisper  together  against  me  : 
even  against  me  do  they  imagine  this  evil. 

8  "  Let  the  sentence  of  guiltiness  proceed  against 
him  :  and  now  that  he  lieth,  let  him  rise  up  no  more." 

9  Yea,  even  mine  own  familiar  friend,  whom  I 
trusted  :  who  did  also  eat  of  my  bread,  hatli  laid  great 
wait  for  me. 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  XLII  Day  Q 

10  But  be  thou  inevciful  unto  me,  0  Lord  :  raise  thou 
me  up  again,  and  1  shall  reward  them. 

1 1  By  this  I  know  thou  favourest  me  :  that  mine 
enemy  doth  not  triiunph  against  me. 

12  And  when  I  am  in  my  health,  thou  upholdest 
me  :  and  shalt  set  me  before  thy  face  for  ever. 

13  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  :  world  with- 
out end.     Amen. 

It  has  been  the  text  of  many  Verse  6.  St.  Ambrose  calls 
famous  political  sermons,  e.g.,  this  Judas  Iscariot's  verse,  and 
BishopHacket  upon  the  Gowrie  indeed  this  whole  psalm  used 
Conspiracy  (verse  9),  and  Dr.  T.  always  to  be  applied  to  him. 
Laurie  upon  the  Victory  of  Hence  at  Milan  it  was  always 
Waterloo  (verses  1-3).  used  on  Wednesday,  the  day 

This   is  a  dirge   psalm,  be-     of  the  betrayal, 
cause  St.  Augustine  interprets         Verse  9.   Our  Lord  Himself 
it  (with    Psalms  iii.,  xvi.,  and     applies  this  verse  to  Judas  (St. 
Ixviii. )  as  prophetic  of  the  resur-    John  xiii.  18). 
rection. 

Liturgical  use. — English  dirge  (see  Ps.  v.). 
Latins. — Tuesday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Monday  evening. 

PSALM  XLII.     Quemadmodum. 

LIKE    as   the   hart   desireth  the  water-brooks  :  so 
longeth  my  soul  after  thee,  O  God. 

2  My  soul  is  athirst  for  God,  yea,  even  for  the  living 
God  :  when  shall  I  come  to  appear  before  the  presence 
of  God  ? 

3  My  tears  have  been  my  meat  day  and  night :  while 
they  daily  say  unto  me,  Where  is  now  thy  God  ? 

4  Now  when  I  think  thereupon,  I  pour  out  mj' heart 
by  myself  :  for  I  went  with  the  multitude,  and  brought 
them  forth  into  the  house  of  God  ; 

5  In  the  voice  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  :  among 
such  as  keep  holy-day. 

6  Why  art  thou  so  full  of  heaviness,  O  my  soul :  and 
why  art  thou  so  disquieted  within  me  ? 

7  Put  thy  trust  in  God ;  for  I  wUl  yet  give  him 
thanks  for  the  help  of  his  countenance. 

8  'Sly  God,  my  soul  is  vexed  within  me  :  therefore 
will  I  remember  thee  concerning  the  land  of  Jordan, 
and  the  little  hill  of  Hermon. 

9  One  deep  caUeth  another,  because  of  the  noise  of 

63 


Days 


PSALM  XLII 


Evening  Prayer 


the  water-pipes  :  all  thy  waves  and  storms  are  gone 
over  me. 

lo  The  Lord  hath  granted  his  loving-kindness  in  the 
daytime  :  and  in  the  night-season  did  I  sing  of  him, 
and  made  ray  prayer  unto  the  God  of  my  life. 

Ill  will  say  vmto  the  God  of  my  strength,  "  Why 
hast  thou  forgotten  me  :  why  go  I  thus  heavily,  while 
the  enemy  oppresseth  me  '?" 

1 2  My  bones  are  smitten  asunder  as  with  a  sword  : 
while  mine  enemies  that  trouble  me  cast  me  in  the  teeth ; 

13  Namely,  while  they  say  daily  unto  me  :  "Where 
is  now  thy  God?" 

14  Why  art  thou  so  vexed,  O  my  soul  :  and  why  art 
thou  so  disquieted  within  me  ? 

15  O  put  thy  trust  in  God  :  for  I  will  yet  thank 
him,  which  is  the  help  of  my  countenance,  and  my 
God. 


This  psalm  was  formerly  used 
in  the  English  Burial  Service  : 
and  because  it  was  said  over 
the  bodies  of  our  fathers  for 
many  generations  it  is  very 
appropriate  as  a  devotion  in 
the  presence  of  the  dead.  It 
acquires  a  new  and  tender  sig- 
nificance in  this  use. 

"  As  pants  the  hart  for  cool- 
ing streams"  is  perhaps  the 
most  successful  of  Tate  and 
Brady's  version  of  the  Psalter. 

In  reference  to  this  psalm, 
the  hart  appears  often  upon 
the  walls  of  the  catacombs 
and  in  later  Christian  art  and 
heraldry. 

"From  the  time  of"  Lord 
William  Russell's  "imprison- 
ment, he  looked  upon  himself 


quieted  within  me.  Trust  in 
God,  for  thou  shalt  quickly  by 
e.xperience  be  taught  to  give 
Him  thanks  and  praise,  who  is 
the  health  of  my  countenance 
and  my  God."  Lord  Russell 
on  his  way  to  the  scaffold  in 
Lincoln's  Inn  Fields  "was 
singing  psalms  a  great  part 
of  the  way,  and  said  he  hoped 
to  sing  better  very  soon." 

The  psalm  was  one  of  Bede's 
favourites,  and  he  turned  it  into 
Latin  verse. 

Verse  8.  St.  Maur  used  to 
retire  from  the  busy  cares  of 
his  bishopric,  when  the  troubles 
of  his  office  vexed  him,  to  a 
little  grove  where  he  had  a  cell, 
his  "  little  hill  of  Hermon," 
with  as  much  delight  as  if  he 


as  a  dead  man,  and  turned  his     were  going  to  a  banquet.     He 


thoughts  wholly  to  another 
world.  He  read  much  in  the 
Scriptures,  particularly  in  the 
Psalms,  and  read  Baxter's 
'  Dying  Thoughts,'  "  in  which 
Ps.  xlii.  is  very  prominent. 
"  Be  not  cast  down,  O  depart- 
ing soul,   nor  by  unbelief  dis- 


was  buried  there  at  the  last, 
and  his  shrine  raised  where  his 
Hermon  once  stood. 

I'erse  9.  The  mediaeval  ex- 
planation of  this  was  always 
mystical.  "  The  deep  of  misery 
to  the  deep  of  mercy"  is  the 
usual  comment  upon  it. 


64 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  XLIV  Day 

Liturgical  7ise. — In  the  dirge  (see  Ps.  v.)  ;  kocjuic-m  (e). 
Latins. — Matins  on  Tuesday  ;  Baptism  of  Adults. 
Greeks. — On  Monday  evening. 

PSALM  XLIII.     JwVmi  me,  Deus. 

GIVE  sentenpo  with  nie.  O  God,  and  defend  my  cause 
against  the  ungodly  people  :  0  deliver  me  from 
the  deceitful  and  wicked  man. 

2  For  thou  art  the  (rod  of  my  strength,  why  hast 
thou  put  me  from  thee  :  and  why  go  I  so  heavily, 
while  the  enemy  oppresseth  me  "? 

3  O  send  out  thy  light  and  thy  truth,  that  thej'  may 
lead  me  :  and  bring  me  unto  thy  holy  hill,  and  to  thy 
dwelling. 

4  And  tliat  I  may  go  imto  the  altar  of  God,  even 
unto  the  God  of  my  joy  and  gladness  :  and  upon  the 
harp  will  I  give  thanks  unto  thee,  O  God,  my  God. 

5  Why  art  thou  so  heavj',  O  my  soul  :  and  why  art 
thou  so  disquieted  within  me  ? 

6  O  put  thy  trust  in  God  :  for  I  will  yet  give  him 
thanks,  which  is  the  help  of  mv  countenance,  and  my 
God. 

This  psalm  belongs  to  the  1485),  he  straightway  knelt 
Secrcfa  at  Mass,  and  has  been  upon  the  shore,  raised  his  gray 
for  cfiituries  the  psalm  by  eyes  to  heaven,  and  recited 
which  the  priest  prepares  him-  Judica  me.  Dens  all  through, 
self  for  the  celebration  of  the  His  fine  fair  hair,  long  neck, 
great  Christian  service.  bright  complexion,  and  smiling 

It  was  sung  at  the  baptism  of  mouth  had  not  yet  toned  down 
St.  Augustine  by  St.  Ambrose,  into  the  thin-lipped,  almost 
at  which  time  the  Te  Deum  is  monkish-looking  king  of  later 
said  to  have  been  composed.  pictures.      He   seems   to   have 

Wiien  Henry  of  Richmond  retained  a  love  of  this  psalm  to 
landed   nt    Milford    Haven    (in     the  end  of  his  life. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  3rd  Sunday  in  Lent  (e). 

Latins. — Tuesday  at  Lauds. 

Greeks. — Monday  evening. 


PSALM  XLIV.     Deus,  aurihvs. 

JYi  have  heard  with  our  ears,  O  God.  our  fathers 
have   told  us  :  what   thou  hast  done  in   their 
time  of  old ; 

2  How  thou  hast  driven  out  the  heathen  with  thy 
65  F 


^^ 


Dayg  PSALM  XLIV  Morning  Prayer 

hand,  and  planted  them  in  :  how  thou  hast  destroyed 
the  nations,  and  cast  them  out. 

3  For  they  gat  not  the  land  in  possession  through 
their  own  sword  :  neither  was  it  their  own  arm  that 
helped  them  ; 

4  But  thy  right  hand,  and  thine  arm,  and  the  light 
of  thy  countenance  :  because  thou  hadst  a  favour  unto 
them. 

5  Thou  art  my  King,  O  God  :  send  help  unto  Jacob. 

6  Through  thee  will  we  overthrow  our  enemies  :  and 
in  thy  Name  will  we  tread  them  under,  that  rise  up 
against  us. 

7  For  I  will  not  trust  in  my  bow  :  it  is  not  my  sword 
that  shall  help  me  ; 

8  But  it  is  thou  that  savest  us  from  oiu'  enemies  : 
and  puttest  them  to  confusion  that  hate  us. 

9  We  make  our  boast  of  God  all  daj'  long  :  and  will 
praise  thy  Name  for  ever. 

10  But  now  thou  art  far  ofT,  and  puttest  us  to  con- 
fusion :  and  goest  not  forth  with  our  armies. 

1 1  Thou  makest  us  to  turn  our  backs  upon  our 
enemies  :  so  that  they  which  hate  us  spoil  om*  goods. 

1 2  Thou  lettest  us  be  eaten  up  hke  sheep  :  and  hast 
scattered  us  among  the  heathen. 

1 3  Thou  sellest  thy  people  for  nought  :  and  takest  no 
money  for  thenr. 

14  Thou  makest  us  to  be  rebuked  of  our  neighbours  : 
to  be  laughed  to  scorn,  and  had  in  derision  of  them  that 
are  round  about  us. 

15  Thou  makest  us  to  be  a  bj'-word  among  the 
heathen  :  and  that  the  people  shake  tlieir  heads  at  us. 

16  My  confusion  is  daily  before  me  :  and  the  shame 
of  my  face  hath  covered  me  ; 

1 7  For  the  voice  of  the  slanderer  and  blasphemer  : 
for  the  enemy  and  avenger. 

18  And  though  all  this  be  come  upon  us,  yet  do  we 
not  forget  thee  :  nor  behave  ourselves  frowardly  in  thy 
covenant. 

19  Our  heart  is  not  turned  back  :  neitlier  our  steps 
gone  out  of  thy  way  ; 

20  No,  not  when  thou  hast  smitten  us  into  the  place 
of  dragons  :  and  covered  us  with  the  shadow  of  death. 

66 


Morning  Prayer  I'SALM   XLV  Day  9 

21  If  we  have  forgotten  the  Name  of  our  God,  and 
holden  up  our  hands  to  any  strange  god  :  shall  not  God 
searcli  it  out  ".'  for  he  knoweth  the  very  secrets  of  the 
heart. 

22  For  thy  sake  also  are  we  killed  all  the  day  long  : 
and  are  counted  as  sheep  appointed  to  be  slain. 

23  Up,  Lord,  why  sleepest  thou  :  awake,  and  be  not 
absent  from  us  for  ever. 

24  Wherefore  hidest  thou  thy  face  :  and  forgettest 
our  misery  and  trouble  ? 

25  For  our  soul  is  brought  low,  even  unto  the  dust  : 
oiu"  belly  cleavetli  unto  the  ground. 

26  Arise,  and  lielp  us  :  and  deliver  us  for  thy  mercy's 
sake. 

Verse   I.    In    1544  Cranmer  less  to  say,  caused  some  offence 

added   the    opening  words   of  to    the  severer   critics    of    the 

this  psalm  to  our  Litany :  "O  Prayer-book. 
God,  we  have  heard  with  our         I'crse    22.     Quoted    by    St. 

ears,  and  our  fathers  have  de-  Paul,  to  show  hovv  the  Catholic 

clared  unto  us,  the  noble  works  P'aith   brings  light   out    of  the 

that  thou  didst  in   their  days,  darkest  things  of  life — "God's 

and    in    the    old    time    before  throne     from      man's     grave " 

them."      He   took   them    from  (Rom.  viii.  36). 
the  lesser  Litany  of  Salisbury,  Verse   23.    St.     Ambrose    of 

and  the  words  are  a  translation  Milan  died  as  lie  was  dictating 

of  the  Vulgate,  and  from  none  of  a  commentary.     He   had   just 

our  versions,  which,  it  is  need-  reached  this  verse. 

La/ins. — Tuesday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Monday  evening. 


PSALM  XLV.     Eiudavit  air  meum. 

MY  heart  is  inditing  of  a  good  matter  :  I  speak  of 
the  thmgs  which  I  have  made  unto  the  King. 

2  My  tongue  is  the  pen  :  of  a  ready  writer. 

3  Thou  art  fairer  than  the  children  of  men  :  full  of 
grace  are  thy  lips,  because  God  hath  blessed  thee  for 
ever, 

4  Gird  thee  with  thy  sword  upon  thy  thigh,  0  thou 
most  ]\Iighty  :  according  to  thy  worship  and  renown. 

5  Good  luck  have  thou  with  thine  honour  :  ride  on, 
because  of  the  word  of  truth,  of  meekness,  and  right- 
eousness ;  and  thy  riglit  hand  shall  teach  thee  terrible 
things. 

^7 


Day  9  PSALM  XLV  Morning  Prayer 

6  Thy  arrows  are  very  sharp,  and  the  people  shall  be 
subdued  unto  thee  :  even  in  the  midst  among  the  King's 
enemies. 

7  Thy  seat,  O  God,  endureth  for  ever  :  the  sceptre 
of  thy  kingdom  is  a  right  sceptre. 

8  Thou  hast  loved  righteousness,  and  hated  iniquity  : 
wherefore  God,  even  thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee  with 
the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fellows. 

9  All  thy  garments  smell  of  m\-rrh,  aloes,  and  cassia  : 
out  of  the  ivory  palaces,  whereby  they  have  made  thee' 
glad. 

10  Kings'  daughters  were  among  thy  honom'able 
women  :  upon  thy  right  hand  did  stand  the  queen  in  a 
vesture  of  gold,  wrought  about  with  divers  colours. 

1 1  Hearken,  O  daughter,  and  consider,  incline  thine 
ear  :  forget  also  thine  own  people,  and  thy  father's 
house. 

12  So  shall  the  King  have  pleasure  in  thy  beauty  : 
for  he  is  thy  Lord  God,  and  worship  thou  him. 

1 3  And  the  daughter  of  Tyre  shall  be  there  with  a 
gift  :  like  as  the  rich  also  among  the  people  shall  make 
their  supplication  before  thee. 

14  The  King's  daughter  is  all  glorious  within  :  her 
clothing  is  of  wrought  gold. 

15  She  shall  be  brought  unto  the  King  in  raiment 
of  needlework  :  the  virgins  that  be  her  fellows  shall 
bear  her  companj',  and  shall  be  brought  unto  thee. 

16  With  joy  and  gladness  shall  they  be  brought  :  and 
shall  enter  into  the  King's  palace. 

1 7  Instead  of  thy  fathers  thou  shalt  have  children  : 
whom  thou  luayest  make  princes  in  all  lands. 

18  I  ■will  remember  thy  name  from  one  generation 
to  another  :  therefore  shall  the  people  give  thanks  unto 
.thee,  world  \nthout  end. 

St.  Columbawith  his  tremen-  uni,  verbum  bonum.  Tliis  was 
dous  voice  chanted  this  ps.ilm  a  verse  often  quoted  against 
so  loud,  when  a  body  of  Picts  the  Arians.  St.  Athanasiiis, 
interrupted  his  evening  devo-  for  instance,  says,  "  Let  the 
tions,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Son  of  God  be  always  and 
river  Xess,  that  they  fled  in  everywhere  acknowledged  to 
fear  and  amazement.  He  was  be  what  He  is,  the  hving 
remarkable  for  his  power  of  Counsel,  the  genuine  and  co- 
voice,  essential     Offspring      of     the 

Verse  I.    Eriictavit  cor  me-  Father,  just  as  the  brightness 

68 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  XLVI  Day  9 

is  of  the  light  ;    for  thus   the  quity,   and   therefore    I    die  in 

Father   Himself  hath  spoken  :  exile,"  were  the  last  words  of 

■  My  heart  hath  given  forth  a  tiie  fierce  and  masterful  Hilde- 

good  Word.'  "  brand,  who  did  so  much  to  en- 

Verse  7.  The  Arian  leaders,  large  and  consolidate  the  power 
Arius  and  Eusebius,  on  the  of  the  Papacy, 
other  hand,  "  were  always  talk-  Verse  11.  Capgrave's  com- 
ing about  this  verse  in  streets,  nient  upon  the  baptism  of 
shops,  and  market-places."  It  baby  Henry  VI.  applies  this 
was  their  stronghold.  verse  to  those  "regenerate  in 

I'crse    8.      "I     have     loved  baptism,  who  are  to  forget  the 

righteousness,    and   hated    ini-  House  of  Wrath." 

Liturgical  ?««•.  — Christmas  morning. 

Latins. — Matins  on  Tuesday  ;  Christmas  Day  ;  Circumcision  ; 

Festivals  of  Our  Lady  ;  Apostles  and  Evangelists. 
Greeks. — Monday  evening. 

PSALM  XLVI.     Dens  noster  refugium. 

GOD  is  our  hope  and  strength  :  a  very  present  help 
in  trouble. 

2  Therefore  will  we  not  fear,  though  the  earth  be 
moved  :  and  though  the  hills  be  carried  into  the  midst 
of  the  sea. 

3  Though  the  waters  thereof  rage  and  swell  :  and 
though  the  mountains  shake  at  the  tempest  of  the 
same. 

4  The  rivers  of  the  flood  thereof  shall  make  glad  the 
city  of  God  :  the  holy  place  of  the  tabernacle  of  the 
most  Highest. 

5  God  is  in  the  midst  of  her,  therefore  shall  she  not 
be  removed  :  God  shall  help  her,  and  that  right  early. 

6  The  heathen  make  much  ado,  and  the  kingdoms 
are  moved  :  but  God  hath  showed  his  voice,  and  the 
earth  shall  melt  awa3\ 

7  The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us  :  the  God  of  .Jacob  is 
our  refuge. 

8  0  come  hither,  and  behold  the  works  of  the  Lord  : 
what  destruction  he  hath  brouglit  upon  the  earth. 

9  He  maketh  wars  to  cease  in  all  the  world  :  he 
breaketh  the  bow,  and  knappeth  the  spear  m  sunder, 
and  burnetii  the  chariots  in  the  fire. 

10  "  Be  still  then,  and  know  that  I  am  God  :  I  will 
be  exalted  among  the  heathen,  and  I  will  be  exalted 
in  the  earth." 

69 


Day  9 


PSALM  XLVII 


Evening  Prayer 


1 1  The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us  :  the  God  of  Jacob 
is  our  refuge. 


This  psalm  is  the  foundation 
of  Luther's  hymn,  Ein  feste 
Burg  ist  unser  Go/f,  which  has 
played  such  a  prominent  part 
in  German  history,  and  was 
the  "  Marseillaise  of  the  Refor- 
mation." 


men,  and  held  it  for  the  king 
against  Hungerford,  Ludlow, 
and  an  army.  She  obtained 
at  last  honourable  terms,  not 
very  honourably  kept.  Her 
husband  was  killed  fighting  for 
the  king  at  Oxford.     She  was  a 


On  June  19,   1645,  after  the     large-eyed  lady,  with  a  flexible, 
humorous   moutli,    whose   pic- 
ture still   survives  at   .Arundel 
Castle. 

Verse  10.  Vincent  of  Lerins 
{ob.  450  .X.D. )  chose  the  quiet 
abbey  m  the  island  off  Caimes 
as  his  lot  in  life,  that  he  might 
without  great  distraction  prac- 
tise that  psalm-song,  I'acate  et 
videte  qiioniaiu  ego  sum  Deus  ; 
and  so,  nfter  divers  and  sad 
storms  in  the  wars  of  the  world, 
he  sheltered  himself  in  "  the 
most  certain  port  of  the  re- 
ligious life." 

;    Epiphany  ;   Dedication  fesii- 


battle  of  Naseby,  both  Houses 
of  Parliament  attended  a 
thanksgiving  seivice  in  the 
Grey  Friars'  Church,  and 
dined  together  in  the  Grocers' 
Hall,  Poultry.  After  dinner 
they  sang  together  their 
favourite  Ps.  xlvi. 

J'erse  7.  "God  was  our  re- 
fuge and  strength  :  the  Lord 
of  armies  was  with  us  :  the 
God  of  jRcob  was  our  Pro- 
tector." These  words  are  the 
epitaph  of  brave  Blanche  Lady 
Arundel,  who  defended  War- 
dour  Castle  with  a  handful  of 

Latins. — Matins  on  Tuesday 


vals  ;   Our  Lady. 
Greeks. — Monday  evening  ;  Mesorion  of  first  hour. 


;  he  is  the 

:  and  the 

even  the 


PSALM  XLVII.     Omnei<  (jenles,  iilaudite. 

OCLAP  your  liands  together,  all  ye  people  :  O  sing 
unto  God  with  the  voice  of  melody. 

2  For  the  Lord  is  high,  and  to  be  feared 
great  King  upon  all  the  earth. 

3  He  shall  subdue  the  people  mider  us 
nations  under  our  feet. 

4  He  shall  choose  out  an  heritage  for  us 
worship  of  Jacob,  whom  he  loved. 

5  God  is  gone  up  with  a  merry  noise  :  and  the  Lord 
with  the  sound  of  the  trump. 

6  O  smg  praises,  sing  praises  unto  our  God  :  O  sing 
praises,  sing  praises  unto  our  King. 

7  For  God  is  tlie  King  of  all  the  earth  :  slug  ye 
praises  witli  understanding. 

79 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  XLVIIl  Day  g 

8  God  reipneth  ovei'  the  heathen  :  God  sitteth  upon 
his  holy  seat. 

9  The  princes  of  the  people  are  joined  unto  the 
people  of  tile  God  of  Abraham  :  for  God,  wliich  is  very 
high  exalted,  doth  defend  the  earth,  as  it  were  with  a 
shield. 

Verse  7.  The  motto  Arch-  exile,"  a.d.  1557.  Since  then 
bishop  Parker  chose  for  his  the  same  motto  has  served 
metrical  Psalms,  which  were  for  many  Psalters,  e.g.,  Hel- 
his   "  exercise   in   his  religious    more's. 

Liturgical  use. — Ascension  Day  evening  ;   Introit  on  Ascen- 
sion Day  (e). 
Latins. — Matins  on  Tuesday  ;   Epiphany  ;   Trinity  Sunday  ; 

Apostles  and  Evansrelist?. 
Greeks.  — Tuesday  morning. 

PSALM  XLVin.     Magnm  Dominus. 

GREAT  is  the  Lord,  and  highly  to  be  praised  :  in  the 
city  of  our  God,  even  upon  his  holy  hill. 

2  The  hill  of  Sion  is  a  fair  place,  and  the  joy  of  the 
whole  earth  :  upon  the  north  side  lieth  the  city  of  the 
gi'eat  King  ;  God  is  well  known  in  her  palaces  as  a  sure 
refuge. 

3  For  lo,  the  kings  of  the  earth  :  are  gathered,  and 
gone  by  together. 

4  They  marvelled  to  see  such  things  :  they  were 
astonished,  and  suddenly  cast  do^\^l. 

5  Fear  came  there  upon  them,  and  sorrow  :  as  upon 
a  woman  in  her  travail. 

6  Thou  shalt  break  the  ships  of  the  sea  :  through  the 
east  wmd. 

7  Like  as  we  have  heard,  so  have  we  seen  in  the 
city  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  in  the  city  of  our  God  :  God 
upholdeth  the  same  for  ever. 

8  "We  wait  for  thy  loving-kindness,  O  God  :  in  the 
midst  of  thy  temple. 

9  O  God,  according  to  thy  Name,  so  is  thy  praise 
unto  the  world's  end  :  thy  right  hand  is  full  of  righteous- 
ness. 

10  Let  the  mount  Sion  rejoice,  and  the  daughter  of 
Judah  be  glad  :  because  of  thy  judgements. 

1 1  Walk  about  Sion,  and  go  round  about  her  :  and 
tell  the  towers  thereof. 

71 


Dayg  PSALM  XLIX  Evening  Prayer 

1 2  Mark  well  her  bulwarks,  set  up  her  houses  :  that 
ye  may  tell  them  that  come  after. 

13  For  this  God  is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever  :  he 
shall  be  our  guide  unto  death. 

This  is  the  psalm  in  which  the  Bernard,  St.  Thomas  of  Can- 
Church  celebrates  her  victories  terbury,  and  many  more, 
over  the  World,  that  is  to  say,  Ve7-sc  7.  When  this  was  ap- 
over  the  unchristian  arrange-  plied  to  Christ,  it  "made  the 
ments  of  Society.  It  com-  Arians  frenzied  with  rage,"  that 
memorated  the  triumph  of  St.  He  should  be  regarded  as  the 
Athanasius,     Constantine,    St.  God  who  upholds  the  world. 

Liturgical  US';. — Whit  Sunday  morning. 

Latins. — Matins  on  Tuesday  ;  Christmas  Day  ;  Whi(sunday  ; 

Trinity  Sunday  ;  Dedication  fea=t. 
Greeks. — Tuesday  morning. 


PSALM  XLIX.     Auclite  hcec,  omnes. 

OHEAR  ye  this,  all  ye  people  :  ponder  it  with  your 
ears,  all  ye  that  dwell  in  the  world  ; 

2  High  and  low,  rich  and  poor  :  one  with  another. 

3  j\Iy  mouth  shall  speak  of  wisdom  :  and  my  heart 
shall  muse  of  understanding. 

4  I  will  incline  mine  ear  to  the  parable  :  and  show 
my  dark  speech  upon  the  harp. 

5  Wherefore  should  I  fear  in  the  daj^s  of  wicked- 
ness :  and  when  the  wickedness  of  my  heels  compasseth 
me  romid  about  ? 

6  There  be  some  that  put  their  trust  in  their  goods  : 
and  boast  themselves  in  the  multitude  of  their  riches. 

7  But  no  man  may  deliver  his  brother  :  nor  make 
agreement  unto  God  for  him  ; 

8  For  it  cost  more  to  redeem  their  souls  :  so  that  he 
must  let  that  alone  for  ever ; 

9  Yea,  tliough  he  live  long  :  and  see  not  the  grave. 

10  For  he  seeth  that  wise  men  also  die,  and  perish 
together  :  as  well  as  the  ignorant  and  foolisli,  and  leave 
their  riches  for  other. 

1 1  And  yet  they  think  that  their  houses  sliall  con- 
tinue for  e^•er  :  and  that  their  dwelling-places  shall 
endure  from  one  generation  to  another ;  and  caU  the 
lands  after  their  own  names. 

12  Nevertheless,  man  will  not  abide  in  honour  :  see- 

72 


Evening  Prayer 


PSALM  XLIX 


Day  9 


ing  he  may  be  compared  unto  the  beasts  that  perish ; 
this  is  the  way  of  them. 

13  Tliis  is  their  fooHshness  :  and  their  posterity  praise 
their  saying. 

14  They  he  in  the  hell  like  slieep,  death  gnaweth 
upon  them,  and  the  righteous  shall  have  domination 
over  them  in  the  morning  :  their  beauty  shall  consume 
in  the  sepulchre  out  of  their  dwelling. 

1 5  But  God  hath  delivered  my  soul  from  the  place 
of  hell  :  for  he  shall  receive  me. 

16  Be  not  thou  afraid,  though  one  be  made  rich  :  or 
if  the  glory  of  his  house  be  increased  ; 

17  For  he  shall  carry  nothing  away  with  him  when 
he  dieth  :  neither  shall  his  pomp  follow  him. 

18  For  while  he  lived,  he  counted  himself  an  happy 
man  :  and  so  long  as  thou  doest  well  unto  thyself,  men 
will  speak  good  of  thee. 

1 9  He  shall  follow  the  generation  of  his  fathers  :  and 
shall  neAer  see  light. 

20  Man  being  in  honour  hath  no  understanding  :  but 
is  compared  unto  the  beasts  that  perish. 


This  is  the  psalm  which  con- 
tained   for    Matthew   .Arnold's 
"  Obermann    once   more"    the 
whole  message  of  David's  land. 
He  says  of  Christ : 
"While  we  believed,  on  earth 
He  went 
And  open  stood  His  grave  ; 
Men   cail'd    from    chamber, 
church,  and  tent, 
And  Christ  was  by  to  save. 
"  Now  He  is  dead  !    Far  hence 
He  lies 
In  the  lorn  Syrian  town, 
And  on  His  grave,  with  shin- 
ing eyes, 
TheSyrian stars  look  down. 
"  In  vain  men  still,  with  hoping 
new. 
Regard    His    death  -  place 
dumb, 
.And  say  the  stone  is  not  yet 
to, 
And  wait  for  words  to  come. 


"Ah,  from  that  silent  sacred 
land 
Of  sun  and  arid  stone, 
And    crumbling     wall,     and 
sultry  sand. 
Comes  now  one  word  alone  ! 

"  From  David's  lips  this  word 
did  roll, 
'Tis  true  and  living  yet : 
No  man  can  save  his  brother  s 
soul, 
Xor  pay  his  brother  s  debt. 

"Alone,     self- poised,    hence- 
forward man 
Must  labour  !  must  resign 
His   all    too   human  creeds, 
and  scan 
Simply  the  way  Divine." 

Henry  Lok,  an  Elizabethan 
courtier,  transl.ited  this  psalm 
with  some  others  into  English 
verse,  and  thought  the  Book  of 
Ecclesiastes  was  a  commeiitarv 


TZ 


Day  lo  PSALM  L  Morning  Prayer 

upon  if,  a  conclusion  which  Verse  i  opens  St.  Gregory 
seems  parallel  to  that  of  the  Nazianzen's  first  great  polemic 
nineteenth  century  poet.  against  Julian  the  Apostate. 

Latins. — Matins  on  Tuesday. 

Greeks. — Tuesday  morning. 


PSALM  L.     Beus  deorum. 

THE  Lord,  even  the  most  mighty  God,  hath  spoken  : 
and  called  the  world,  from  the  rismg  up  of  the 
sun,  unto  the  gomg  down  thereof. 

2  Out  of  Sion  hath  God  appeared  :  in  perfect  beauty. 

3  Our  God  shall  come,  and  shall  not  keep  silence  : 
there  shall  go  before  him  a  consuming  tire,  and  a 
mighty  tempest  shall  be  stirred  up  round  about  him. 

4  He  shall  call  the  heaven  from  above  :  and  the 
earth,  that  he  may  judge  his  people. 

5  "Gather  my  saints  together  unto  me  :  those  that 
have  made  a  covenant  with  me  with  sacrifice." 

6  And  the  heaven  shall  declare  his  righteousness  : 
for  God  is  Judge  himself. 

7  "  Hear,  O  my  people,  and  I  will  speak  :  I  myself 
will  testify  against  thee,  O  Israel ;  for  I  am  God,  even 
thy  God.  ' 

8  "  I  will  not  reprove  thee  because  of  thy  sacrifices, 
or  for  thy  burnt-offerings  :  because  they  were  not  alway 
before  me. 

9  "  I  will  take  no  bullock  out  of  thine  house  :  nor 
he-goat  out  of  thj'  folds. 

10  "  For  all  the  beasts  of  the  forest  are  mine  :  and  so 
are  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills. 

11  "I  know  all  the  fowls  upon  the  mountains  :  and 
the  wild  beasts  of  the  field  are  in  my  sight. 

12  "If  I  be  hungry,  I  will  not  tell  thee  :  for  the 
whole  world  is  mine,  and  all  that  is  therein. 

13  "Thinkest  thou  that  I  will  eat  bulls'  flesh  :  and 
drink  the  blood  of  goats  ? 

14  "Offer  unto  God  thanksgiving  :  and  pay  thy 
vows  unto  the  most  Highest. 

1 5  "  And  call  upon  nie  in  the  time  of  trouble  :  so 
will  I  hear  thee,  and  thou  slialt  praise  me." 

16  But  unto  the  ungodly  said  God  :  "  Why  flost  thou 
preach  my  laws,  and  takest  my  covenant  in  thy  mouth  ; 

74 


Morning  Prayer  PSAI.M  LI  Day  \o 

17  '*  Whereas  tliou  liatcst  to  be  reformed  :  and  hast 
cast  my  words  behind  thee  i 

18  "  When  tliou  sawcst  a  thief,  thou  consentedst  unto 
him  :  and  hast  been  partaker  with  the  aduUerers. 

19  "  Thou  hast  let  thy  mouth  speak  wickedness  :  and 
with  thy  tongue  thou  hast  set  forth  deceit. 

20  "  Tliou  satest,  and  spakest  against  thy  brother  : 
yea,  and  hast  slandered  thine  own  mother's  son. 

21  "These  things  hast  thou  done,  and  I  held  my 
tongue,  and  thou  thoughtest  wickedly,  that  I  am  even 
sucli  a  one  as  thyself  :  but  I  will  reprove  thee,  and  set 
before  thee  the  tilings  that  thou  hast  done. 

22  "  O  consider  this,  ye  that  forget  God  :  lest  I  pluck 
you  away,  and  there  be  none  to  deliver  you. 

23  "  Whoso  offereth  me  thanks  and  praise,  he  honour- 
eth  me  :  and  to  him  that  ordereth  his  conversation 
right  will  I  shew  the  salvation  of  God." 

Verse  16.  Origen  was  threat-  lament,    which   is   one   of   the 

ened,    says    Suidas,    with    an  mo^t  tragic  passages  in  litera- 

abuse  and  shame  worse   than  ture. 

torture,  if  he  did  not  sacrifice  I'erse  18.  This  was  once 
to  Cagsar.  In  a  moment  of  much  used  in  magic  for  thief- 
fear  he  consented,  and  they  finding.  A  number  of  sus- 
filled  his  hand  with  incense,  pected  names  or  letters  were 
and  thrust  it  over  the  altar,  put  into  a  key,  and  the  key 
He  thus  escaped  martyrdom,  was  laid  and  turned  over  the 
and  fled  from  Alexandria  to  verse  Si  videbas  fiirem  cur- 
Judi^a,  where  he  was  entreated  rebas  cum  eo,  and  the  name 
to  preach.  He  took  the  which  leaped  out  showed  the 
Psalter,  prayed,  and  opened  at  thief.  So  with  adultery,  slan- 
this  verse,  read  it  :  shut  the  der,  back  -  biting,  etc.,  the 
book,  sat  down,  and  burst  into  psalm  always  consulted  was 
tears,  in  which  all  the  audience  Dciis  Jeortim,  "  wliose  title  im- 
joined.  "The  prophet  David  plies  that  He  is  God  over 
himself  shut  the  door  of  my  evil  spirits  and  imps  of  mis- 
lips,"  as  he  wrote  in  his  bitter  chief." 

Latins. — Matins  on  Tuesday. 

Greeks. — Tuesday  morning. 

PSALA[  LI.     Miserere  mei,  Dem. 

HAVE  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  after  thy  great  good- 
ness :  according  to  the  multitude  of  thy  mercies 
do  away  mine  offences. 

2  Wash  me  throughly  from  my  wickedness  :  and 
cleanse  me  from  my  sin. 

75 


Day  10  PSALM  LI  Morning  Prayer 

3  For  I  acknowledge  my  faults  :  and  my  sin  is  ever 
before  me. 

4  Against  thee  only  have  I  sinned,  and  done  this  evil 
in  thy  sight  :  tliat  thou  mightest  be  justified  in  thy 
saying,  and  clear  when  thou  art  judged. 

5  Behold,  I  was  shapen  in  wickedness  :  and  in  sin 
hath  my  mother  conceived  me. 

6  But  lo,  thou  requirest  truth  in  the  inward  parts  : 
and  shalt  make  me  to  understand  wisdom  secretly. 

7  Thou  shalt  purge  me  with  hyssop,  and  I  shall  be 
clean  :  thou  shalt  wash  me,  and  I  shall  be  whiter  than 
snow. 

8  Thou  shalt  make  me  hear  of  joy  and  gladness  : 
that  the  bones  which  thou  hast  broken  may  rejoice. 

9  Turn  thy  face  from  my  sins  :  and  put  out  all  my 
misdeeds. 

10  Make  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God  :  and  renew  a 
right  spirit  within  me. 

1 1  Cast  me  not  away  from  thy  presence  :  and  take 
not  thy  holy  Spirit  from  me. 

12  O  give  me  the  comfort  of  thy  help  again  :  and 
stablish  me  with  thy  free  Spirit. 

13  Then  shall  I  teach  thy  ways  unto  the  wicked  : 
and  sinners  sliall  be  converted  unto  thee. 

14  Deliver  me  from  blood-guiltiness,  O  God,  thou 
that  art  the  God  of  my  health  :  and  my  tongue  shall 
sing  of  thy  righteousness. 

15  Thou  slialt  open  my  lips,  0  Lord  :  and  my  mouth 
shall  shew  thy  praise. 

16  For  thou  desirest  no  sacrifice,  else  would  I  give  it 
thee  :  but  thou  delightest  not  in  burnt-offerings. 

17  The  sacrifice  of  God  is  a  troubled  spirit  :  a  broken 
and  contrite  heart,  O  God,  shalt  thou  not  despise. 

18  O  be  favourable  and  gracious  unto  Sion  :  build 
tliou  the  walls  of  .Terusalem. 

19  Then  shalt  thou  be  j)leased  with  the  sacrifice  of 
righteousness,  with  the  burnt-otferings  and  oblations  : 
then  shall  they  offer  young  bullocks  upon  tliine  altar. 

This  is  the  fourth  penitential  deadly  sin   of  lechery   {ro»/r,i 

psalm.       The    others    are   vi. ,  luxiiriiun). 
xxxii.,  xxxviii.,  cii. ,  cxxx.,  .ind         None   of    the   other   psalms 

cxliii.     It  is  an  antidote  lo  the  have  had  half  the  effect  upon 

76 


Morning  Praver 


PSALM  LI 


Day  10 


men's  minds  that  this  one  has 
exercised.  It  lias  a  library  of 
its  own.  "  The  more  one  me- 
ditates upon  it,  the  richer  it 
seems,  and  that  unendingly," 
is  most  folk's  comment. 

The  earliest  luiglish  version 
of  the  Psalms  begins  with  this 
one  :  for  it,  more  than  any 
other,  inspired  Adheliri  in  the 
eighth  century,  and  was  his 
favourite,  as  it  was  Keble's  in 
tliis  age.  St.  Dunstan's  canons 
so  highly  esteemed  it  that  a 
sick  man  who  said  fifteen  Mis- 
ereres and  Pahr  /losters  re- 
deemed a  day's  fasting.  In 
Theodulf's  Capitula  it  is  given 
for  private  daily  prayers ;  and 
Archbishop  Elfric,  in  995, 
ordered  his  clergy  so  to  use  it 
(with  XXV.  and  xxvi. ).  It  has 
been  the  psalm  to  many  of  tlie 
sternest  and  most  active- 
minded  men  ;  for  instance, 
St.  Bernard,  wlio  heard  its 
cadences  as  the  first  prelude  to 
his  monastic  life,  and  loved  it 
best.  Indeed,  when  Dante  saw 
the  heavenly  rose  of  saints 
round  God's  throne,  St.  Ber- 
nard pointed  out  Ruth  to  him 
as  "  the  ancestress  of  him  who 
wrote  the  Miserere."  The 
same  Dante  heard  it  in  purga- 
tory, chanted  by  the  spirits  of 
those  who  had  delayed  repent- 
ance till  their  violent  deaths.  It 
was  sung  at  great  humiliations 
and  repentances  :  by  those,  for 
instance,  who  were  absolved 
froni  excommunication  ;  by 
King  John  at  Winchester,  in 
1213  A.u.  Hardly  any  holy 
men  died  on  a  death-bed,  or  at 
a  scaffold,  or  at  a  stake,  with- 
out breathing  out  the  unwoin 
passion  of  this  great  prayer. 

Savonarola,  just  before  his 
death,  with  his  liand  trembling 


from  the  toriure,  wrote  ui<on  it 
a  wonderful  commentary,  which 
some  influential  people — pro- 
bably inspired  by  Colet— Iried 
to  have  inserted  in  our  Pra\er- 
book  as  a  Passion  medita- 
tion in  the  Reformniion 
times.  The  opening  sentences 
of  this  meditation  Cranmer 
repeated  on  his  knees  in  St. 
Mary's,  Oxford,  before  he  was 
burnt.  Sir  Thomas  More 
repeated  the  psalm  on  the 
scaffold  ;  Lady  Jane  Grey  at 
her  e.Necution  (1554)  ;  Rowland 
Taylor,  while  he  was  burning 
(1555),  said  it,  and  was  struck 
in  the  mouth  for  not  saying  it  in 
Latin  ;  just  as  Alexander  Brian, 
Robert  Johnson,  and  William 
Filbie,  Romanists,  who  would 
not  betray  Parsons  the  Jesuit, 
at  their  execution,  were  ill- 
treated  for  not  saying  it  in 
English.  When  Dr.  .Arnold 
knew  he  was  dying,  and  was 
asked  what  should  be  read  to 
hini,  he  answered  instantly, 
■'  The  fifty-first  psalm." 

I'crse  7.  Dr.  Ker  says  that 
in  the  northernmost  grave  in 
the  world,  near  Cape  Beechy, 
in  the  white  Polar  regions,  is 
buried  a  sailor  who  went  ex- 
ploring with  Sir  George  Nares. 
Above  it  there  is  a  copper  tablet, 
with  the  words,  "Thou  shalt 
wash  me,  and  I  shall  be  whiter 
than  snow." 

This  is  the  verse  used  in  the 
Asperges,  when  the  holy-water 
is  sprinkled. 

J'erse  17.  Bernabo  Visconti 
(1385),  who  was  dying  in  filth 
and  neglect  in  Trezzo  prison, 
where  so  many  of  his  victims 
had  died,  used  to  drag  himself 
to  the  grating,  and  repeat  with- 
out ceasing,  again  and  again, 
Cor  contritiim  et  humiliatiim. 


77 


Day  \o  PSALM  LII  Morning  Prayer 

Deics  non  dcspicies.  The  very  that  the  great  ambition  of  his 
term  "  contrition  "  comes  from  life  had  been  to  lead  a  crusade 
this  verse,  just  as  the  Kyrie  to  restore  Jerusalem, 
^/e/j-fw  does  from  the  opening  "The  souls  of  the  faithful 
words.  pilgrims  plead  ever  to  God  for 
Verse  i8.  When  Henry  V.  us  in  these  words,"  says  Cap- 
heard  this  on  his  death-bed,  grave, 
he  raised  himself  up,  and  said 

I.ihtrgical  ?«<?.— Commination  service. 

Latins. — On  all  weekdays  at  Lauds  ;  Communion  of  the  Sick  ; 

Burial  of  the  Dead,  in  procession  from  the  house  ;  Preces, 

etc. 
Greeks.  — Tuesday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  Saturday  ;  Third 

Hour  ;  late  Evensong  ;  Visitation  of  the  Sick  ;  Confession  ; 

Office  for  the  Dying  ;  burial  of  laymen,  monks,  infanis, 

and  of  priests. 

PSALM  LII.     Quid  fjloriaris  ? 

WHY  boastest  thou  thyself,  thou  tyr.ant :  that  thou 
canst  do  mischief ; 

2  Whereas  the  goodness  of  God  :  endui'eth  yet  daily  ? 

3  Thy  tongue  iniagineth  wickedness  :  and  with  lies 
thou  cuttest  like  a  sharp  razor. 

4  Thou  hast  loved  vmrighteousness  more  than  good- 
ness :  and  to  talk  of  lies  more  than  righteousness. 

5  Thou  hast  loved  to  speak  all  words  that  may  do 
hurt  :  O  thou  false  tongue. 

6  Therefore  shall  God  destroy  thee  for  ever  :  he  shall 
take  thee,  and  pluck  thee  out  of  thy  dwelling,  and  root 
thee  out  of  the  land  of  the  living. 

7  The  righteous  also  shall  see  this,  and  fear  :  and 
shall  laugh  him  to  scorn  ; 

8  "  Lo,  this  is  the  man  that  took  not  God  for  his 
strength  :  but  trusted  unto  the  multitude  of  his  riches, 
and  strengthened  himself  in  his  wickedness." 

9  As  for  me,  I  am  like  a  green  olive-tree  in  the  house 
of  God  :  my  trust  is  in  the  tender  mercy  of  God  for 
ever  and  ever. 

10  I  will  always  give  thanks  unto  thee  for  that  thou 
hast  done  :  and  I  will  hope  in  thy  Name,  for  thy  saints 
like  it  well. 

When  Charles  L  came  to  treat  him  resjjectfully,  the  min- 
the  Scotch  camp  at  Newark,  isters  knew  no  check,  and  often 
though  the  generals  affected  to     insulted  the   r.tiliappy  king  to 

78 


Evening  Prayer 


PSALM  LI  1 1 


Day  lo 


his  face.  One  of  them,  after  a 
railing  sermon,  ordered  Ps.  lii. 
to  be  sung  : 

"Why    doest    thou,     tyrant, 
boast  abroad, 
Thy    wicked    works     to 
praise  ? 
Dost  thou  not  know  there  is 
a  God 
Whose    mercies    last    al- 
ways?" 

Then  the  king  stood  up,  and, 
with  a  meekness  and  dignity 
that  touched  even  those  rigid 
enthusiasts,  called  for  Ps.  Ivi. 
instead  : 

"  Have  mercy,  Lord,  on  me, 
I  pray. 
For  man   would   me   de- 
vour ; 
He  fightelh  with  me  day  by 
day, 
And    troubleth  me    each 
hour." 

This  version  is  Sternhold  and 
Hopkins',  of  whom  Fuller  says 
"  that  they  had  drunk  more  of 
Jordan  than  of  Helicon,"  and 
who  "have  in  many  verses  such 
poor  rhyme  that  two  hammers 
on  a  smith's  anvil  would  make 
better  music."   It  is  said  (falsely 


said,  Fullerdeclares)  that  Queen 
Elizabeth  called  these  versions 
"  Geneva  (jigs."  "  Some  have 
made  libellous  verses  in  abuse 
of  them  ;  and  no  wonder  if 
songs  were  made  on  the  trans- 
lators of  the  Psalms,  seeing 
drunkards  made  them  on 
David,  the  author  thereof." 
"Such  as  sing  them  must  en- 
deavour to  amend  them,  by 
singing  them  with  understand- 
ing heads  and  gracious  hearts, 
whereby  that  which  is  but  had 
ma/ter  on  earth  will  be  made 
good  music  in  heaven." 

In  the  life  of  St.  Porphyrins, 
Bishop  of  Gaza,  it  is  told  that 
the  great  idol  temple  there  took 
fire,  and  burnt  for  many  days. 
The  Christians  gathered  round 
and  chanted  this  psalm,  es- 
teeming this  fire  the  work  of 
God  ;  and,  indeed,  not  a  few 
heathen  were  thus  converted. 

Verse  8.  In  relerence  to  this 
verse,  and  its  warning  against 
trusting  in  riches.  King  Edward 
VI.  put  on  the  English  groats, 
Postii  Deum  aiiitorem  meutii 
— "I  have  taken  God  for  my 
strength,"  and  Queen  Elizabeth 
had  the  same  words  engraved 
upon  her  household  silver. 


Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  St.  Stephen's  Mass  (e) 
Latins. — Tuesday  Matins. 
Greeks.— TnesA^y  morning. 


PSALM  LIII.     Dixit  imipiens. 

ri"^HE  foolish  body  hath  said  in  his  heart  :  Tliere  is 
_L      no  God. 

2  Corrupt  are  they,  and  become  abominable  in  their 
wickedness  :  there  is  none  that  doeth  good. 

3  God  looked  down  from  heaven  upon  the  children 
of  men  :  to  see  if  there  were  any  that  v.'ould  imder- 
stand,  and  seek  after  God. 

79 


Day  lo  PSALM  LIV  Evening  Prayer 

4  But  they  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they  are 
altogether  become  abonimable  :  there  is  also  none  that 
doeth  good,  no  not  one. 

5  Are  not  they  without  understanding  that  work 
wickedness  :  eating  up  my  people  as  if  they  would  eat 
bread  ?  they  have  not  called  upon  God. 

6  They  were  afraid  where  no  fear  was  :  for  God 
hath  broken  the  bones  of  him  that  besieged  thee  ;  thou 
hast  put  them  to  confusion,  because  God  hath  despised 
them. 

7  Oh,  that  the  salvation  were  given  unto  Israel  out 
of  Sion  :  Oh,  that  the  Lord  would  deliver  his  people 
out  of  captivity  ! 

8  Then  should  Jacob  rejoice  :  and  Israel  should  be 
right  glad. 

This   psalm,    which    is    the  mcnt   is   briefly   this,    Can  we 

Elohist  version   of  Ps.   xiv. ,  is  suppose  that  the  mind  fashioned 

one  of  the  bones  of  contention  and    invented    a    thouglit     so 

among  modern  critics.  great  that  it  fills  all   thought? 

Verse  1.  The  discourses  upon  Prof.   Caird  sums  up  and  ap- 

ihis  verse  opened  the  wide  field  proves      the     meaning     which 

of  controversy  upon  the  onto-  underlies  this    "proof"  :  "As 

logical  argument  for  the  exist-  spiritual     beings,    our     whole 

ence  of  God  ;  St.  Anselm,  Duns  conscious   life    is   based   on   a 

Scotus,    and    Descartes,   being  universal  self-consciousness,  an 

among   the   defenders   of   that  absolute  spiritual  life,  which  is 

argument.  St.  Thomas  Aquinas  not  a  mere  subjective  notion  or 

and  Kant  rejected  it,  and  most  conception,  but   which    carries 

modern  philosophers  have  prac-  with  it  the  proof  of  its  necessary 

tically abandoned  it.  Theargu-  existence  or  reality." 

Latins. — On  Wednesday  at  Matins. 
Greeks.  — On  Tuesday  morning. 


PSALM  LIV.     Dens,  in  nomine. 

SAVE  me,  0  God,  for  thy  Name's  sake  :  and  avenge 
me  in  thy  strength. 

2  Hear  my  prayer,  O  God  :  and  hearken  unto  the 
words  of  my  mouth. 

3  For  strangers  are  risen  up  against  me  :  and  tyrants, 
which  have  not  God  before  their  eyes,  seek  after  my 
soul. 

4  Behold,  God  is  my  helper  :  the  Lord  is  with  them 
that  uphold  my  soul. 

8o 


Evening  Prayer  I'SALM   L\'  Day  \o 

5  He  shall  reward  e\  il  unto  mine  enemies  :  destroy 
thou  them  in  tliy  trutli. 

6  An  oft'eriuf,'  of  a  free  heart  will  I  give  thee,  and  praise 
thy  Name,  O  Jx)rd  :  because  it  is  so  comfortable. 

7  For  he  hath  delivered  me  out  of  all  my  trouble  : 
and  mine  eye  hath  seen  his  desire  upon  mine  enemies. 

I'ersc  6.     These   words  de-  tunaiely,  ihey  could  not  control 

cided  both  popes  and  councils  the  inside  of  the  monasteries, 

to   niLilce    it   illegal    to    devote  and     hence    many   a     Filippo 

children  of  a  tender  age  to  the  Lippi  was  forced  to  take  vows 

monkish   life,  until   they  could  for  which  he  had  no  call, 
give  "a   free   heart."     Unfor- 

Liturgical  use. — Good  Friday  morning. 
Latins.  —  Daily  at  Prime  ;   Easter  Eve. 
Greeks. — On  Tuesday  morning,  at  sixth  hour. 

PSALM  LV.     E.raudi,  Dem. 

HEAR  my  prayer.  O  God  :  and  hide  not  thyself  from 
my  petition. 

2  Take  heed  unto  me,  and  hear  me  :  how  I  mourn 
in  my  pi'ayer,  and  am  vexed. 

3  The  enemy  crieth  so,  and  the  ungodly  cometh  on 
so  fast  :  for  they  are  minded  to  do  me  sonie  mischief ; 
so  maliciously  are  they  set  against  me. 

4  My  heart  is  disquieted  within  me  :  and  the  fear  of 
death  is  fallen  upon  me. 

5  Tearfulness  and  trembling  are  come  upon  me  : 
and  an  horrible  dread  hath  overwhelmed  me. 

6  And  I  said,  O  that  I  had  wdngs  like  a  dove  :  for 
then  would  I  flee  away,  and  be  at  rest. 

7  Lo,  then  would  I  get  me  away  far  off :  and  remain 
in  the  wilderness. 

8  I  would  make  haste  to  escape  :  because  of  the 
stormy  wind  and  tempest. 

9  Destroy  tlieu*  tongues,  O  Lord,  and  divide  them  : 
for  I  have  spied  unrighteousness  and  strife  in  the  city. 

10  Day  and  night  they  go  about  within  the  walls 
thereof  :  mischief  also  and  sorrow  are  in  the  midst  of  it. 

1 1  "Wickedness  is  therein  :  deceit  and  guile  go  not 
out  of  their  streets. 

12  For  it  is  not  an  open  enemy,  that  hath  done  me 
tliis  dishonour  :  for  then  I  could  have  borne  it. 

8i  G 


Day  lo  PSALM  LV  Evening  Prayer 

13  Neither  was  it  mine  adversary,  that  did  magnify 
himself  against  me  :  for  then  peradventure  I  would 
have  hid  myself  from  him. 

14  But  it  was  even  thou,  my  companion  :  my  guide, 
and  mine  own  familiar  friend. 

1 5  We  took  sweet  counsel  together  :  and  walked  in 
the  house  of  Grod  as  friends. 

16  Let  death  come  hastily  upon  them,  and  let  them 
go  down  quick  into  hell  :  for  wickedness  is  in  their 
dwellings,  and  among  them. 

17  As  for  me,  I  will  call  upon  God  :  and  the  Lord 
shall  save  me. 

18  In  the  evening,  and  morning,  and  at  noonday  will 
I  pray,  and  that  instantly  :  and  he  shall  hear  my  voice. 

19  It  is  he  that  hath  delivered  my  soul  in  peace  from 
the  battle  that  was  against  me  :  for  there  were  many 
with  me. 

20  Yea,  even  God,  that  endureth  for  ever,  shall  hear 
me,  and  bring  them  down  :  for  they  will  not  turn,  nor 
fear  God. 

21  He  laid  his  hands  upon  such  as  be  at  peace  with 
him  :  and  he  brake  his  covenant. 

22  The  words  of  his  mouth  were  softer  than  butter, 
having  war  in  his  heart  :  his  words  were  smoother  than 
oil,  and  yet  be  they  very  swords. 

23  O  cast  thy  burden  upon  the  I^ord,  and  he  shall 
nourish  thee  :  and  shall  not  suffer  the  righteous  to  fall 
for  ever. 

24  And  as  for  them  :  thou,  O  God,  shalt  bring  them 
into  the  pit  of  destruction. 

25  The  blood-thirsty  and  deceitful  men  shall  not  live 
out  half  their  days  :  nevertheless,  my  trust  shall  be  in 
thee,  O  Lord. 

This  was  the  last  psalm  (his  that  this  motto  was  constantly 

favourite)  read  by  the  wretched  in  the  mouths  of  the  peaceful 

Darnley,  the  night  he  was  blown  and  pious  Egyptian  CcL'nobites 

up  at  Kirk-o'-Field,  February,  while  they  libteiu-ci  to  the  words 

1567.  of  their  "  Father,"  whose  praise 

Verse   I,    first    part,    is    the  as  a  speaker  was  in  the  weep- 

niotto  carved  on  the  Jacobitan  ing  of  liis  hearers.     Their  holy, 

reading  -  pew       in        Newport  oijcdient,    and    discijilined    life 

Church,  Isle  of  Wight.  was    the    loveliest    contrast    to 

Verse    6.     St.    Jerome    says  the    fierce    anaichy    and    lust 


.\ronii/i^  Pniyer  PSALM   LVl  Day  ii 

about   tliem.     Tlie  verse  was,  daily  and  iiiterclianocably  pass 

at    any    rate,    one    wliich    St.  in  the  hearing  of  Cjod  Himself 

Jerome    iiimself   repeats  again  and  in  the  presence  of  His  holy 

and  again.     It  has  also  played  angels,  so  many  heavenly  ac- 

no  small  part  in  literature  and  clainations,  exultations,  provo- 

art,    e.g.,   Mendelssohn's    well  cations,     petitions,     songs    of 

known  musical  setting;  Brown-  comfort,  psalms  of  praise  and 

ing's  "  I'ompilia,"  iii.  991-997,  thanksgiving." 

etc.  Verse    25.     Giraldus     Cam- 

Verse   15.    Hooker  deduced  brensis'    comment     upon     the 

from  this  that  it  is  reasonable  to  death  of  King  John,  and  a  very 

think,  that  if  walking  as  friends  apposite  one,  too.     The  same 

in  the  house  of  God  made  the  words  formed  the  fierce  retort 

bond  of  men's  love  insoluble,  of  old  Cecil,  Lord  Burleigh,  to 

that  all  piety  will  be  witnessed  the  Earl  of   Essex,    when   the 

to  and  kindled  by  the  use  of  latter  vehemently  opposed  the 

psalms    between    clergy,    and  policy  of  peace  with  Spain, 
those    ' '  between    whom    there 

Latins. — Matins  on  Wednesday. 

Greeks. — On  Tuesday  morning  ;  Sixth  hour  ;  \'isitation  of  the 
Sick. 

PSALM  LVL     Miserere  met,  Dens. 

BE  merciful  unto  me,  O  God,  for  man  goeth  about  to 
devour  me  :  he  is  daily  lighting,  and  troubling  me. 

2  Mine  enemies  are  daily  in  hand  to  swallow  me 
up  :  for  they  be  many  that  fight  against  me,  O  thou 
most  Highest. 

3  Nevertheless,  though  I  am  sometime  afraid  :  yet 
put  I  my  trust  in  thee. 

4  I  will  praise  God,  because  of  his  word  :  I  have  put 
my  trust  in  God,  and  wiU  not  fear  what  flesh  can  do 
unto  me. 

5  They  daily  mistake  my  words  :  all  that  they 
imagine  is  to  do  me  evil. 

6  They  hold  all  together,  and  keep  themselves  close  : 
and  mark  my  steps,  when  tliey  lay  wait  for  my  soul. 

7  Shall  they  escape  for  their  wickedness  :  thou,  0 
( rod,  in  thy  displeasure  shalt  cast  them  down. 

8  Thou  tellest  my  flittings ;  put  my  tears  into  thy 
bottle  :  are  not  these  things  noted  in  thy  book  "? 

9  Whensoever  I  call  upon  thee,  then  shall  mine 
enemies  be  put  to  flight  :  this  I  know ;  for  God  is  on 
my  side. 

10  In  God's  word  will  I  rejoice  :  in  the  Lord's  word 
will  I  comfort  me. 


Dam  PSALM  L\'II  Morning  Prayer 

1 1  Yea,  in  God  have  I  put  my  trust  :  I  will  not  be 
afraid  what  man  can  do  unto  me. 

12  Unto  thee,  O  God,  will  I  pay  my  vo\\s  :  unto  thee 
will  I  ^\%  thanks. 

13  For  thou  hast  deli^ered  mj'  soul  from  death,  and 
mj'  feet  from  falling  :  that  I  may  walk  before  God  in 
the  light  of  the  living. 

In    the    Middle     Ages    this  in    the   lines   of  the   face  ;   no 

psalm  was  usually  said  by  the  doubt    because   of    the    king's 

sick,    before    they    took    their  love    for    them.      Charles   II. 

physic.  begged  it  of  the  college,  and  it 

Charles  I.'s  choice  [vide  Ps.  was  given  him  with  so  strong  a 

Hi.)  when  insulted  by  the  Pres-  hint  of  the  loss  to  the  society 

byterian  ministers.     There  was  that  he  felt  obliged  to  restore 

a   picture  of  this  king  at   St.  it. 

John's  College,  O.xford,  which  ]'crsc  8.  These  words  were 
the  5/>(rAr/('/- noticed.  It  had  the  a  favourite  saying  of  holy  Arch- 
whole  Book  of  Psalms  written  bishop  Usher  (1580-1655). 

Latins. — Wednesday  morning. 

Greeks. — Tuesday  morning  ;  Mesorion  of  si.xth  hour. 


PSALM  LYII.     M'mm-e  mei,  Deus. 

BE  merciful  unto  me,  O  God,  be  merciful  unto  me. 
for  my  soul  trusteth  in  thee  :  and  under  the 
shadow  of  thy  wings  shall  be  my  refuge,  until  this 
tyranny  be  over-past. 

2  I  will  call  unto  the  most  high  God  :  even  unto  the 
God  that  shall  perform  the  cause  which  I  have  in  hand. 

3  He  shall  send  from  heaven  :  and  save  me  from  the 
reproof  of  him  that  w  ould  eat  me  up. 

4  God  shall  send  forth  his  mercy  and  truth  :  my  soul 
is  among  lions. 

5  And  I  lie  even  among  the  children  of  men,  that 
are  set  on  fire  :  whose  teeth  are  spears  and  arrows,  and 
their  tongue  a  sharp  sword. 

6  yet  up  thyself,  O  God,  aboAc  the  heavens  :  and 
thy  glory  above  all  the  earth. 

7  They  have  laid  a  net  for  my  feet,  and  pressed 
down  my  soul  :  the,\'  have  digged  a  pit  before  me,  and 
are  fallen  into  the  midst  of  it  themselves. 

8  My  heart  is  fixed.  O  God,  my  heart  is  fixed  :  I  will 
sing  and  give  praise. 

84 


.\forniiiir  Pniytr  I'SALMLVIII  D,i y  ii 

9  Awake  np.  my  glory  ;  awake,  lute  and  harp  :  I 
myself  will  awake  right  early. 

10  I  will  give  thanks  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  among  the 
people  :  and  I  will  sing  unto  tliee  among  the  nations. 

1 1  For  the  greatness  of  thy  mercy  reacheth  unto  the 
heavens  :  and  thy  trutli  unto  the  clouds. 

12  Set  up  thyself,  O  God,  above  the  heavens  :  and 
thy  glory  above  all  the  earth. 

Verse      i.       Miserere      met,  Walton  and  everyone  else  the 

Domi/ie,  miserere  mei,  was  the  freciuent  use  of  the   Psalms  of 

motto  of   Pope    Nicholas    III.  David,  saying  "  that  they  were 

(1277-1279),  the  great  opponent  the  treasury  of  Christian  com- 

of  Charles  of  Anjou.  fort,  fitted  for  all  persons  and 

The  last  words  were  in  con-  necessities  :    able  to   raise   the 

stant   use  in  reference   to   the  soul    from     dejection    by    the 

enforced  signing  of  tiie  Cove-  frequent     mention     of     God's 

nant,  January  29,  1643.  mercies   to   repentant  sinners: 

Verse  ^.   This  verse  was  not  to  stir  up  holy  desires  ;   to  in- 

without  reason  applied  by  St.  crease  joy  :  to  moderate  sorrow  ; 

Athanasius    to    the    fiery   and  to  nourish  hope  and  teach  us 

persecuting       .\rians,      whose  patience     by     waiting     God's 

arguments  frequently  did  take  leisure  ;   to  beget  a  trust  in  the 

sword  form.  mercy,  power,  and  providence 

Verse  8.   These  words  were  of  the  Creator;   and  to  cause 

among  the  last  of  Dr.  Robert  a   resignation    of   ourselves   to 

.'-Janderson,  as  Walton  tells  us  His  will  ;   and   then,  and   not 

in    his    Lives.      This    learned  till   then,   to   believe   ourselves 

and  pious  man  commended  to  happy." 

I.itiirgieal  use. — Easter  morning. 

Latins. — Wednesday  morning. 

(Greeks. — Tuesday  morning  ;   Mesorion  of  sixth  hour. 


PSALM  LVIII.     S'b  vere  uth^ue. 

ARE  your  mmds  set  upon  righteousiiess,  0  ye  con- 
gregation :  and  do   ye  judge  the  thing  that  is 
right,  O  ye  sons  of  men  '? 

2  Yea,  ye  imagine  mischief  in  your  heart  upon  the 
earth  :  and  your  hands  deal  with  wickedness. 

3  The  ungodly  are  froward,  even  from  their  mother's 
womb  :  as  soon  as  they  are  born,  they  go  astray,  and 
speak  lies. 

4  They  are  as  venomous  as  the  poison  of  a  serpent  : 
even  like  the  deaf  adder  that  stoppeth  her  ears ; 

85 


Day  II  PSALM  LIX  Evening  Prayer 

5  Which  refuseth  to  hear  the  voice  of  the  charmer  : 
charm  he  ne^•er  so  wisely. 

6  Break  their  teeth,  O  God,  in  their  mouths ;  smite 
the  jawbones  of  the  Uons,  O  Lord  :  let  them  fall  away 
like  water  that  runneth  apace  ;  and  when  they  shoot 
their  arrows  let  them  be  rooted  out. 

7  Let  them  consume  away  like  a  snail,  and  be  like 
the  untimely  fruit  of  a  woman  :  and  let  them  not  see 
the  svm. 

8  Or  ever  3'our  pots  be  made  hot  with  thorns  :  so  let 
indignation  vex  him,  even  as  a  thing  that  is  raw. 

9  The  righteous  shall  rejoice  when  he  seeth  the 
vengeance  :  he  shall  wash  his  footsteps  in  the  blood  of 
the  ungodly. 

10  So  that  a  man  shall  say,  Verily  there  is  a  reward 
for  the  righteous  :  doubtless  there  is  a  God  that  judgeth 
the  earth. 

This  psalm  was  much   used  most    lovable    of    all    English 

by  St.  Bernard  in  his  Crusade  saints    and    bishops,    used    to 

sermons.  justify   himself    by    this    ver^e 

Verse  7.    A   queer    piece   of  for  his  tremendous  severity  of 

natural  history  came  from  the  rebuke  and    fierce   indignation 

Jews  with  this  verse,   that  the  against  the  proud  evil-doers  of 

snail  (the  waster)  was  born  big,  his  day.     Though  he  was   the 

and  crawled  until  it  had  worn  great  idol  of  children,  the  gen - 

itself    away    into    slime.       By  tlest  nurse  of  lepers,  the  friend 

Albertus   Magnus'   time,  how-  of   birds  and   beasts,  and  one 

ever,  snails  had  been  observed  so  careful  of  the  dead  that  to 

more  carefully,  for  he  says  the  bury  a  dead   tramp  he  would 

verse    refers     to    snails    when  keep     the     king     waiting     for 

salted.  dinner,  yet  his  rebukes  were  so 

Verseg.  St.  Hugh  of  Lincoln,  severe  they  seemed  almost  un- 

one  of  the  bravest,  wisest,  and  measured. 

I.a/ins. — Wednesday  morning. 
Greeks. — On  Tuesday  morning. 


PSA.LM  LIX.     Eripe  tm  de  inimkis. 

DELIVER  me  from  mine  enemies,  O  God  :  defend 
me  from  them  that  rise  up  against  me. 

2  O  dehver  me  from  the  wicked  doers  :  and  save  me 
from  the  blood-thirsty  men. 

3  For  lo,  they  lie  waiting  for  my  soul  :  the  mighty 
men  are  gathered  against  me.  without  i\.\\\  offence  or 
fault  of  me.  O  T^ord. 

86 


Evening  Prayer  PSAI.MLIX  Day  w 

4  They  run  ivnd  propave  thenist'lves  without  \\\\ 
fault  :  arise  thou  therefore  to  lielp  )ne,  and  beliold. 

5  Stand  up,  0  Lord  God  of  liosts,  tliou  God  of  Israel, 
to  visit  all  the  heathen  :  and  be  not  merciful  unto  them 
that  otl'end  of  malicious  wickedness. 

6  They  go  to  and  fro  in  the  evening  :  thev  grin  like 
a  dog,  and  run  about  tlirough  the  city. 

7  13ehold,  they  speak  with  tlieir  mouth,  and  swords 
are  in  their  lips  :  for  "  who  doth  hear  ?"' 

8  But  thou,  O  Lord,  shalt  liave  them  in  derision  : 
and  thou  shalt  laugh  all  the  heathen  to  scorn. 

9  My  sti'ength  will  I  ascribe  unto  thee  :  for  thou  art 
the  God  of  my  refuge. 

10  God  sheweth  me  his  goodness  plenteously  :  and 
God  shall  let  me  see  my  desire  upon  mine  enemies. 

1 1  Slay  them  not,  lest  my  people  forget  it  :  but 
scatter  them  abroad  among  the  people,  and  put  them 
down,  O  Lord,  our  defence. 

1 2  For  the  sin  of  their  mouth,  and  for  the  words  of 
their  lips,  they  shall  be  taken  in  their  pride  :  and  why  : 
their  preaching  is  of  cursing  and  lies. 

13  Consiuue  them  in  thy  wrath,  consume  them,  that 
they  may  perish  ;  and  know  that  it  is  God  that  ruletli 
in  Jacob,  and  unto  the  ends  of  the  world. 

14  And  in  tlie  evening  they  will  return  :  grin  like  a 
dog,  and  will  go  aboiit  the  city. 

1 5  Tliey  will  run  here  and  there  for  meat :  and 
grudge  if  they  be  not  satisfied. 

16  As  for  me,  I  will  sing  of  thy  power,  and  will 
praise  thy  mercy  betimes  in  the  inorning  :  for  thou  hast 
been  my  defence  and  refuge  in  the  day  of  my  trouble. 

17  Unto  thee,  O  my  strength,  will  I  sing  :  for  thou, 
O  God,  art  my  refuge,  and  my  merciful  God. 

In  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.  ized  people  with  them  by  using 

this     psalm    was    used    as    a  them  on  Sundays.     The  word 

Passion  psalm.  "  vindictive  "  has  only  lately  ac- 

This  is  one  of  the  vindictive  quired  the  meaning  of  studied 

psalms,  as  they  are  called,  the  malice.      "Vindication"    is   a 

others  being  Ixix. ,  Ixxix.,  and  special   virtue    in    the   eyes   of 

cix. ,  and  they  have  caused   no  St.  Thomas  Aquinas,  opposed 

little  controversy  in  every  age,  to  savagery  and  cruelty  on  the 

especially  among  us  since  the  one     hand,     and    carelessness 

English   Church  has   familiar-  about   evil  on  the  other.     He 

87 


D,iy\i  PSALM  LX  Evening  Prayer 

insists,  of  course,  that  it  must  But  if  the  New  Testament  were 
not  spring  from  hate,  but  from  merely  a  repetition  of  the  Old, 
a  good  motive,  charity  to  the  it  would  be  unnecessary.  Tiiese 
evil-doer  (his  amendment  or  psalms  show  how  widely  the 
restraint),  or  for  the  general  two  differ  in  places,  even  when 
peace  and  welfare.  If  any  de-  the  words  of  the  Old  are 
fence  is  made  of  these  psalms,  weighed  impartially,  and  with- 
it  usually  goes  on  these  lines,  out  modern  misconceptions. 

Latins. — Matins  on  Wednesday. 
Greeks. — Tuesday  morning. 

PSALM  LX.     Di'ui,  repulisti  nns. 

OGOI),  thou  hast  cast  us   out,   and   scattered  us 
abroad  :  thou  hast  also  been  displeased  ;  O  turn 
thee  unto  us  again. 

2  Thou  hast  moved  the  land,  and  divided  it  :  heal 
the  sores  thereof,  for  it  shaketh. 

3  Thou  hast  shewed  thy  people  heavy  things  :  thou 
hast  given  us  a  drink  of  deadly  wine. 

4  Thou  hast  given  a  token  for  such  as  fear  thee  : 
that  they  may  triumph  because  of  the  truth. 

5  Therefore  were  thy  beloved  delivered  :  help  me 
with  thy  right  hand,  and  hear  me. 

6  God  hath  spoken  in  his  holiness,  I  will  rejoice,  and 
divide  Hichem  :  and  mete  out  the  valley  of  Succoth. 

7  Gilead  is  mine,  and  IVIanasses  is  mine  :  Ephraim 
also  is  the  strength  of  my  head  ;  Judah  is  un-  law- 
giver ; 

8  Moab  is  my  wash-pot ;  over  ImIoui  will  I  cast  out 
my  shoe  :  Philistia,  be  thou  glad  of  me. 

9  Who  will  lead  me  into  the  strong  city  :  who  will 
bring  me  into  Edom  "? 

10  Hast  not  thou  cast  us  out,  0  God  :  wilt  not  thou. 
O  God,  go  out  with  our  hosts  '? 

1 1  O  be  thou  our  help  in  trouble  :  for  vain  is  the 
help  of  man. 

12  Through  God  will  we  do  great  acts  :  for  it  is  he 
that  shall  tread  down  oiu"  enemies. 

When  St.  Cuthbert  drew  near  midniglit  he  raised  his  hands 
his  end  he  was  in  his  cell  off  and  sped  forth  iiis  spirit.  When 
Lindisfarne,  alone  with  his  Herefrid  told  the  bretliren  out- 
eider  ducks.  Herefrid  and  side  tiiey  were  just  beginning 
certain  monks  landed  to  give  the  midnight  psalm,  /leus 
liim  the  last   Sacrament.      .\t  i/utire     rcpiilisli    nos,    and     a 

88 


Evenin-  /')\iycr  PSALM   LXI  D.ry  ii 

brother  went  to  the  liigher  I'ersc  2.  The  text  of  the 
ground  and  raised  two  torches,  Bishop  of  Exeter,  Joseph 
as  a  signal  to  I.indisfarne.  Tiie  Hall's  magnificent  and  brave 
brethren  there  were  chanting  plea  for  peace,  which  he 
the  same  psahn  wlien  the  signal  preached  to  Charles  I.  at 
was  spied,  and  they  knew  that  Whitehall,  on  the  2nd  Sunday 
their  chief  was  gone.  So  this  in  Lent,  1641,  "  On  the  Mis- 
psalm  has  been  called  the  Dirge  chiefe  of  Faction  and  the 
of  St.  Cuthbert,  and  was  the  Reniedie  of  it."  He  was  trans- 
dirge  also  of  Celtic  Christianity,  lated  to  Norwich;  but  his  ad- 
which  died  with  liini.  vice  was  left  to  he  where  it  fell. 

Latins. — Wednesday  morning. 
Greeks. — Tuesday  morning. 


P8ALM  LXr.     E.nmd[,  Deu<. 

HEAR    iny    crying,    O    God    :    give    ear   unto    iny 
prayer. 

2  From  the  ends  of  the  earth  will  I  call  upon  thee  : 
when  uiy  heart  is  in  heaviness. 

3  O  set  me  up  upon  the  rock  that  is  higher  than  I  : 
for  thou  hast  been  my  hope,  and  a  strong  tower  for  me 
against  the  enemy. 

4  I  will  dwell  in  thy  tabernacle  for  ever  :  and  my 
trust  shall  be  under  the  covering  of  thy  wings. 

5  For  thou,  O  Lord,  hast  heard  my  desires  :  and 
hast  given  an  heritage  unto  those  that  fear  thy  Name. 

6  Thou  shalt  grant  the  King  a  long  life  :  that  his 
years  may  endure  tln-otighout  all  generations. 

7  He  shall  dwell  before  God  for  ever  :  O  prepare 
thy  loving  mercy  and  faithfulness,  that  they  may  pre- 
serve him. 

8  So  will  I  alway  sing  praise  mito  thy  Name  :  tliat 
I  may  daily  perform  thy  vows. 

V^erse   5.     St.     Chrysostom's  from  this  heavenly  heritage,  of 

comment  on   this   is   that   the  being  eternally   repelled    from 

"heritage"  is  Christ  Himself.  Christ,  and  hearing  from   His 

"  A  thousand  hells  are  nothing  mouth,  '  I  never  knew  you.'  " 
to  the  evil  of  being  shut  out 

Latins. — Wednesday   morning  ;    Apostles  and    Evangelists  ; 

.AH  .Saints'. 
Greeks.—  Tuesday  morning  ;  Visitation  of  the  Sick. 


89 


Day  12  PSALM  LXII  hlonting  Prayer 


PSALM  LXII.     Nonm  Deo  ? 

MY  soiil  truly  waiteth  still  upon  God  :  for  of  liiiu 
cometh  iiij?  salvation. 

2  He  verily  is  my  strength  and  my  salvation  :  he  is 
my  defence,  so  that  I  shall  not  greatly  fall. 

3  How  long  will  ye  imagine  mischief  against  every 
man  :  ye  shall  be  slain  all  the  sort  of  you ;  yea,  as  a 
tottering  wall  shall  ye  be,  and  like  a  broken  hedge. 

4  Their  device  is  only  how  to  put  him  out  whom 
God  will  exalt  :  their  delight  is  in  lies ;  they  give 
good  words  with  their  mouth,  but  curse  with  their 
heart. 

5  Nevertheless,  my  soul,  wait  thou  still  upon  God  : 
for  my  hope  is  in  him. 

6  He  truly  is  my  strength  and  ni,\  salvation  :  he  is 
my  defence,  so  that  I  shall  not  fall. 

7  In  God  is  my  health,  and  m,\-  glory  :  the  rock  of 
my  might,  and  in  God  is  my  trust. 

8  O  put  your  trust  in  him  alway,  ye  people  :  pour 
out  your  hearts  before  him,  for  God  is  our  hope. 

9  As  for  the  children  of  men,  they  are  but  vanity  : 
the  children  of  men  are  deceitful  upon  the  weights, 
they  are  altogether  lighter  than  ^  anity  itself. 

10  O  trust  not  in  wrong  and  robbery,  give  not  your- 
selves unto  vanity  :  if  riches  increase,  set  not  your 
heart  upon  them. 

1 1  God  spake  once,  and  twice  I  ha\e  also  heard  the 
same  :  that  power  belongeth  unto  God  ; 

12  And  that  thou.  Lord,  art  merciful  :  for  thou  re- 
wardest  every  man  according  to  his  work. 

St.     Athana'iub's      favourite  time  to  meditate  upon  the  cor- 

psalm.     "  Against  all  attempts  ruptions  of  .Alexandria,  where 

upon  thy  body,   thy  state,  thy  he   was    born,    and   where   lie 

soul,    thy    fame,    temptations,  died  {},72,). 
tribulations,  machinations,  de-         Veisc    i.       Allan    Gardiner 

famations,    say     this     psalm."  painted  these  words  in  red  over 

He  probably  learnt   his   great  the  cave  in  which  he  was  starved 

love  for  it   in   the  desert   with  to  death  (z'f'rtV  xvii. ). 
St.  Anthony.      There  he   had 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  Mass  on  Easier  morning  (e). 

Latins. — Wednesday  Matins. 

Greeks.— TntidAy  morning. 

90 


Morn  in ^^  Prayer  PSALM   LXI II  Day  \i 

PSALM  LXIII.     Deii^,  Deus  mens. 

OGOD.  thou  art  my  God  :  early  will  I  seek  thee. 
2    My    soul    thirsteth    for    thee,    my    Hesh    also 
longeth  after  thee  :  in  a  barren  and  (h\\  land  where  no 
water  is. 

3  Thus  have  I  looked  for  thee  in  holiness  :  that  I 
might  behold  thy  power  and  glory. 

4  For  thy  loving-kindness  is  better  than  the  life 
itself  :  my  lips  shall  praise  thee. 

5  As  long  as  I  live  will  I  magnify  thee  on  this 
manner  :  and  lift  up  my  hands  in  thy  Name. 

6  My  soul  shall  be  satisfied,  even  as  it  were  with 
marrow  and  fatness  :  when  my  mouth  praiseth  thee 
with  joyful  lips. 

7  Have  I  not  remembered  thee  in  my  bed  :  and 
thought  upon  thee  when  I  was  waking '? 

8  Because  thou  hast  been  my  helper  :  therefore  under 
the  shadow  of  thy  wings  will  I  rejoice. 

9  My  sold  hangeth  upon  thee  :  thy  right  hand  hath 
upholden  me. 

[o  These  also  that  seek  the  hurt  of  my  soul  :  they 
shall  go  under  the  earth. 

1 1  Let  them  fall  upon  the  edge  of  the  sword  :  that 
they  may  be  a  portion  for  foxes. 

12  But  the  King  shall  rejoice  in  God;  all  they  also 
that  swear  by  him  shall  be  commended  :  for  the  mouth 
of  them  that  speak  lies  shall  be  stopped. 

The    African    Church    used  Theodore  Beza  (after  whom 

this  as  the  morning  psalm,  and  the  rhymed  psalms  were  called 

in  the  Apostolic  constitutions  it  "  Beza's  Ballets  ")  said  that  this 

begins  the  day's  devotions.      It  was  the  psalm   he  always  said 

has   been   called    the   morning  over   and   over   to    himself   on 

hymn  of  the  Early  Church.     It  his  sleepless  nights, 

was  also  called   the   psalm   of  J'c'rsr  8.     The  last  words  of 

the  Three  Kings.  "Blessed"  John   Forrest,  who 

It     was     St.      Chrysostom's  was  burnt  at  Smithfield  (May 

favourite  psalm,  and  he  thought  22,  1538),  with  the  approval  of 

that  the  spirit  of  the  whole  book  Bishop  Latimer, 
was  compressed  into  it. 

La/ins. — L-iuds  daily. 

Greeks. — On  Tuesday  morning. 


91 


Dajr  12  PSALM   LX IV  Morning  Prayer 

PSALM  LXIV.     ExAmdi,  Deus. 

HEAR  my  voice,  O  God,  in  my  prayer  :  preserve 
my  life  from  fear  of  the  enemy. 
3  Hide  me  from  the  gathering  together  of  the  fro- 
ward  :  and  from  the  insurrection  of  wicked  doers  ; 

3  Who  have  whet  their  tongue  like  a  sword  :  and 
shoot  out  their  arrows,  even  bitter  words ; 

4  That  they  may  privilj'  shoot  at  him  that  is  perfect  : 
suddenly  do  they  hit  him,  and  fear  not. 

5  Tliej'  encourage  themselves  in  mischief  :  and  com- 
mune among  themselves  how  they  may  lay  snares,  and 
say,  that  no  man  shall  see  them. 

6  They  imagine  wickedness,  and  practise  it  :  that 
they  keep  secret  among  themselves,  every  man  in  the 
deep  of  his  heart. 

7  But  God  shall  suddenly  shoot  at  tliem  with  a  swift 
arrow  :  that  they  shall  be  wounded. 

8  Yea,  their  own  ton.gues  shall  make  them  fall  :  in- 
somuch that  whoso  seeth  them  shall  laugh  them  to 
scorn. 

9  And  all  men  that  see  it  shall  say,  "  This  hath  God 
done  "  :  for  they  shall  perceive  that  it  is  his  work. 

10  The  righteous  shall  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  put 
his  trust  in  him  :  and  all  they  that  are  true  of  heart 
shall  be  glad. 

The  proper  psalms  once  ap-  tric^l     editions,     were     \'icars 

pointed    to    be   said    on    (iun-  the  I'resbyferian,  lampooned  in 

powder  Treason  Day  were  Ixi v.,  "  Hudibras,"   and   Blackmore, 

cxxiv.,  and  cxxv.  William  1 11. 's  physician,  whom 

John  Holland,  in  his  "  P.=alni-  Pop-^     called      "the     godless 

ists  of   Britain,  "   numbers   173  author,     who     burlesqued      a 

authors  of  metrical  translations  psalm."      These    poor   fellows 

from  the  sixteenth  century.    Up  must     have    understood     this 

to    the    year    1723,    Le    Long  psalm,  at  any  rate, 

numbers  1,120  editions  of  the  J'erse  7.     This  verse  (which 

Old  Testament  m^de  since  the  in    the   Vulgate   ends,    sagitfeF. 

year  1475,  and  counts  500  com-  paivnlorum  fact(€  sunt  plagtc 

mentators  on  tlie  Psalms  ;  but  tiirnin,  their  blows  are   turned 

Calmet,    not    long   afterwards,  into  children's  arrows)  was  ac- 

asserled   that  there  were  close  cepted    by  St.    .\mbrose,  as   a 

upon  a  thousand  known.  promise   of  deliverance,   when 

.•\niong   the    nuich- wronged  he    was   threatened    with    fire, 

minor  authors,  who  out  of  love  sword,  and  banishment, 
for  the   Psalter  published    me- 

92 


Eve/iifio-  Pniyer  PSALM  LX\'  D,n  i2 

Latins. — Wednesday  at  Matins  ;  Apostles  and  Evangelists. 
Greeks. — Tuesday  morning. 


PSALM  LXV.     Te  dccet  hyninn.^. 

THOU.  0  God,  art   praised  in  Sion  :  and  unto  thee 
shall  the  vow  be  performed  in  Jerusalem. 

2  Thou  that  hearest  the  prayer  :  unto  thee  shall  all 
tlesh  come. 

3  My  misdeeds  prevail  against  me  :  O  be  thou  merci- 
ful unto  our  sitis. 

4  Blessed  is  the  man,  whom  thou  choosest,  and  re- 
ceivest  unto  thee  :  he  shall  dwell  in  thy  court,  and  shall 
be  satisfied  with  the  pleasures  of  thy  house,  even  of  thy 
holy  temple. 

5  Thou  shalt  show  us  wonderful  things  in  thy  right- 
eousness, O  God  of  our  salvation  :  thou  that  art  the 
hope  of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  of  theni  that  re- 
main in  the  broad  sea. 

6  Who  m  his  strength  setteth  fast  the  mountains  : 
and  is  girded  about  with  power. 

7  Who  stilleth  the  raging  of  the  sea  :  and  the  noise 
of  his  waves,  and  the  madness  of  the  people. 

8  They  also  that  dwell  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth  shall  be  afraid  at  thy  tokens  :  thou  that  makest 
the  outgoings  of  the  morning  and  evening  to  praise 
thee. 

9  Thou  visitest  the  earth,  and  blessest  it  :  thou  makest 
it  very  plenteous. 

10  The  river  of  God  is  full  of  water  :  thou  preparest 
their  corn,  for  so  thou  providest  for  the  earth. 

1 1  Thou  waterest  her  furrows,  thou  sendest  rain  into 
the  little  valleys  thereof  :  thou  makest  it  soft  with  the 
drops  of  rain,  and  blessest  the  increase  of  it. 

1 2  Thou  crownest  the  year  with  thy  goodness  :  and 
thy  clouds  drop  fatness. 

13  They  shall  drop  upon  the  dwellings  of  the  wilder- 
ness :  and  the  little  hills  shall  rejoice  on  every  side. 

14  The  folds  shall  be  full  of  sheep  :  the  valleys  also 
shall  stand  so  thick  with  corn,  that  they  shall  laugh 
and  sing. 

93 


Day  12  PSALM  LXVI  Evening  Prayer 

This  is  the  basis  of  Ongen's  And    opening    showers,    re- 
prayer    for    the     Alexandrine  strain'd  from  harm, 
Church.  Soften   the  mould,  while  all 

This  (with  Psalms  civ.   and  unseen 

cxxi. )    was     a    favourite    with  The  blade  grows  up  alive  and 

Henry   Vaughan,    the   W^ords-  green." 
worth  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, whose  intense  delight  in 

nature  gives  his  sacred  poems  ]'erse  ii.  \n  .v/iUiclt/ii.v  cilLr 
some  of  tlie    freshness  of    the  \ivtab\ty\.r  gervainaiis  baifciiCes 
Psalms  themselves.  Coro/i<r.     Out    of    these   words 
a    prophecy    of    tlie    birth    of 
"  Thou  waterest  every  ridge  of  Charles    VIII.    was    e.\tracted 
land,  by  forming  thedate  mccclllxvv. , 
And  settlest  with  Thy  secret  i.e.  1470.      It  was  a  curious  in- 
hand  stance  of  ingenuity,  and  cele- 
The  furrows  of  it  ;  then  Thy  brated  because  it  succeeded, 
warm 

Latins. — Wednesday  Lauds. 

Greeks. — Tuesday  evening  ;  Saturday  evening. 

PSALM  LXVI.     JuUlate  Ben. 

OBE  joyful  in  God,  all  ye  lands  :  sing  praises  unto 
the  honour  of  his  Name,  make  his  praise  to  be 
glorious. 

2  Say  unto  God,  "  O  how  wonderful  art  thou  in  thy 
works  :  thi'ough  the  greatness  of  thy  power  shall  thine 
enemies  be  found  liars  unto  thee. 

3  "  For  all  the  world  shall  worship  thee  :  sing  of  thee, 
and  praise  thy  Name." 

4  0  come  hither,  and  behold  the  works  of  God  :  how 
wonderful  he  is  in  his  doing  toward  the  children  of 
men. 

5  He  turned  the  sea  into  dry  land  :  so  that  they 
went  through  the  water  on  foot ;  there  did  we  rejoice 
thereof. 

6  He  ruleth  with  his  power  for  ever  ;  his  eyes  be- 
hold the  people  :  and  such  as  will  not  believe  sliall  not 
be  able  to  exalt  themselves. 

7  O  praise  our  (iod,  ye  people  :  and  make  tlie  voice 
of  his  praise  to  be  heard  ; 

8  \\\\o  holdeth  our  soul  in  life  :  and  sufifereth  not 
our  feet  to  slip. 

9  For  thou,  O  God,  hast  proved  us  :  thou  also  hast 
tried  us,  like  as  silver  is  tried. 

94 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  LXVI  Day  12 

10  Thoii  brou},'htest  us  into  the  snare  :  and  laidest 
trouble  upon  our  loins. 

1 1  Thou  sufferetlst  men  to  ride  over  our  heads  :  we 
went  through  fire  and  water,  and  thou  broughtest  us 
out  into  a  wealthy  place. 

12  I  will  go  into  thine  house  with  bm-nt-otierings  : 
and  will  pay  thee  my  vows,  which  I  promised  with  my 
lips,  and  spake  with  my  naouth,  when  I  was  in  trouble. 

13*'!  will  offer  unto  thee  fat  burnt-sacritices,  with  the 
incense  of  rams  :  I  will  offer  bullocks  and  goats.'' 

14  0  come  hither,  and  hearken,  all  ye  that  fear  God  : 
and  I  will  tell  you  what  he  hath  done  for  my  soul. 

15  I  called  unto  him  with  my  mouth  ;  and  gave  him 
praises  with  my  tongue. 

16  If  I  mcline  unto  wickedness  with  mine  heart  : 
the  Lord  will  not  hear  me. 

17  But  God  hath  heard  me  :  and  considered  the  voice 
of  my  prayer. 

18  Praised  be  God  who  hath  not  cast  out  my  praj'er  : 
nor  turned  his  mercy  from  me. 

Verse  11.  Traiisiviinus  per  "  But  verily  God  hath  heard 
ignem  et  aquam  ct  eduxisti  nos  me,  He  hath  attended  to  the 
in  refrigeriinn.  This  is  the  voice  of  my  prayer. ' 
motto  Savonarola's  Venetian  "  Now,  I  expected  that  David 
editors  chose  for  his  sermons  should  have  concluded  thus  : 
(1543,  etc.1.  It  was  also  St.  '  Therefore  I  regard  not  wicked- 
Basil's  text  for  the  forty  martyrs,  ness  in  my  heart.'  But,  far 
who  were  exposed  to  the  cold  otherwise,  he  concludes  : 
and  frozen  to  death.  'Blessed    be   God,    who   hath 

Verses  16,   17  and  18.   This  not    turned    away    my   prayer, 

syllogism,  without  a  conclusion  nor     His     mercy    from     me.' 

in  logical  form,  caused  no  little  Thus     David     hath    deceived, 

debate  among  the  schoolmen,  but  not  wronged  me.     I  looked 

and  no  less  comment.     Fuller's  that  he  should  have  clapped  the 

note  upon    it   perhaps    settled  crown  on  his  own,  and  he  puts 

the  question  of  its  "  bad  logic."  it  on  God's  head.     I  will  learn 

"  I^ord,  I  find  David  making  this  excellent  logic  ;  for  I  like 

a  syllogism,  in  mood  and  figure,  Davids  better  than  Aristotle's 

two  propositions  he  perfected.  syllogisms,  that,  whatsoever  the 

"  '  If  I  regard  wickedness  in  premises    be,    I    make    God's 

my  heart,  the    Lord   will   not  glory  tlie  conclusion." 
hear  me. 

Liturgical  use. — Thanksgiving  after  a  storm  at  sea. 
Latins. — Wednesday  Matins  ;  Epiphany. 
Greeks. — Tuesday  night  ;  Saturday  night. 

95 


Day  12  PSALM  LXVHl  A  fornint:;  Prayer 

PSALM  LXVII.     Dens  misereafur. 
"^  OD  be  merciful  unto  us,  and  bless  us  :  and  shew 


G' 


us  the  light  of  his  countenance,  and  be  merciful 
luito  us. 

2  That  thy  way  may  be  known  upon  earth  :  thy 
saving  health  among  all  nations. 

3  Let  the  people  praise  thee,  O  God  :  yea.  let  all  the 
people  praise  thee. 

4  O  let  the  nations  rejoice  and  be  glad  :  for  thou 
shalt  judge  the  folk  righteously,  and  govern  the  nations 
upon  earth. 

5  Let  the  people  pi-aise  thee.  O  God  :  let  all  the 
people  praise  thee. 

6  Then  shall  the  earth  bring  forth  her  increase  :  and 
God,  e\en  our  own  God,  shall  give  us  his  blessing. 

7  God  shall  bless  us  :  and  all  the  ends  of  the  world 
shall  fear  him. 

J''erse  3.     These  words   de-  centuries,     and      even      going 

cided  Pope  John  VIII.,  in  the  beyond  him   in  claims,  for  he 

ninth  century,  to  allow  Metho-  declared   that   the    election   of 

dius    to    evangelize    the    Bui-  the  emperor  rested  with   him. 

garians,     who     knew     neither  This  mission   is   all   the   more 

Latin,  Greek,  nor  Hebrew,  and  important   from   the   fact   that 

he   thus   opened    the   door   to  Methodius    and     his     brother 

foreign   missions.     This    Pope  Cyrilluswere  the  first  to  invent 

carried    the    papal    claims    to  an    alphabet   and    reduce   the 

their    greatest    height,    antici-  Slavonian    language     to   writ- 

pating   (Gregory   VH.   by   two  ing. 

Liturgical    use. — Marriage   psalm  ;  Evensong   psalm,    alter- 
native to  Xunc  Dimittis  ;  Introit  to  Mass  on  Trinity  Sunday  (e). 
Latins.— V>2i\\y  at  Lauds. 
Greeks. — Tuesday  evening  ;  Saturday  evening. 


PSALM  LXVin.     E.nn-fiat  Ijcvs. 

IET  God  arise,  and  let  his  enemies  be  scatteretl  :  let 
J     them  also  that  hate  him  Hee  before  him. 

2  Like  as  the  smoke  vanisheth,  so  shalt  thou  drive 
them  away  :  and  like  as  wax  melteth  at  the  fire,  so  let 
the  ungodly  perish  at  the  presence  of  God. 

3  But  let  the  righteous  be  glad  and  rejoice  before 
God  :  let  them  also  be  merry  and  joyful. 

4  O  sing  unto  God,  and  sing  praises  unto  his  Name  : 

96 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  LX  VI 1 1  Day  13 

magnify  him  that  rideth  upon  the  heavens,  as  it  were 
upon  an  horse  ;  praise  liim  in  his  Name  JAH,  and 
rejoice  before  him. 

5  He  is  a  Father  of  the  fatherless,  and  defendeth  the 
cause  of  tlie  widows  :  even  God  in  his  holy  habitation. 

6  He  is  tlie  God  that  maketh  men  to  be  of  one  mind 
in  an  house,  and  bringeth  the  prisoners  out  of  captivity  : 
but  letteth  tlie  runagates  continue  in  scarceness. 

7  0  God,  when  thou  wentest  forth  before  the  people  : 
when  thou  wentest  through  the  wilderness, 

8  The  earth  shook,  and  the  heavens  dropped  at  the 
presence  of  God  :  even  as  Sinai  also  was  moved  at  the 
presence  of  God,  who  is  the  God  of  Israel. 

9  Thou,  O  God,  sentest  a  gracious  rain  upon  thine 
inheritance  :  and  refreshedst  it  when  it  was  weary. 

10  Thy  congregation  shall  dwell  therein  :  for  thou,  0 
God,  hast  of  thy  goodness  prepared  for  the  poor. 

1 1  The  Lord  gave  the  word  :  great  was  the  company 
•of  the  preachers. 

12  "  Kings  with  their  armies  did  flee,  and  were  dis- 
comfited :  and  they  of  the  household  divided  the  spoil." 

1 3  Though  ye  have  lien  among  the  pots,  yet  shall  ye 
be  as  the  wings  of  a  dove  :  that  is  covered  with  silver 
wings,  and  her  feathers  like  gold. 

14  When  the  Almighty  scattered  kings  for  their 
sake  :  then  were  they  as  white  as  snow  in  Salmon. 

1 5  As  the  hill  of  Basan,  so  is  God's  hill  :  even  an 
high  hill,  as  the  hill  of  Basan. 

16  Why  hop  ye  so,  ye  high  hills  ?  this  is  God's  hill, 
in  the  which  it  pleaseth  him  to  dwell  :  yea,  the  Lord 
will  abide  in  it  for  ever. 

17  The  chariots  of  God  are  twenty  thousand,  even 
thousands  of  angels  :  and  the  Lord  is  among  them,  as  in 
the  holy  place  of  Sinai. 

18  Thou  art  gone  up  on  high,  thou  hast  led  captivity 
captive,  and  received  gifts  for  men  :  yea,  even  for  thine 
enemies,  that  the  Lord  God  might  dwell  among  them. 

19  Praised  be  tlie  Lord  daily  :  even  the  God  who 
helpeth  us,  and  poureth  his  benefits  upon  us. 

20  He  is  our  God,  even  the  (xod  of  whom  cometh 
.salvation  :  God  is  the  Lord,  by  whom  we  escape  death. 

21  God  shall  wound  the  head  of  his  enemies  :  and 

97  H 


Day  13  PSALM  LXVIII  Morning  Prayer 

the  hairy  scalp  of  such  a  one  as  goeth  on  still  in  his 
wickedness. 

22  The  Lord  hath  said,  I  will  bring  my  people  a^ain, 
as  I  did  from  Basan  :  mine  own  will  I  bring  again,  as 
I  did  sometime  from  the  deep  of  the  sea. 

23  That  thy  foot  may  be  dipped  in  the  blood  of  thine 
enemies  :  and  that  the  tongue  of  thy  dogs  may  be  red 
through  the  same. 

24  It  is  well  seen,  0  God,  how  thou  goest  :  how  thou, 
my  God  and  Kmg,  goest  in  the  sanctuary. 

25  The  singers  go  before,  the  minstrels  follow  after  : 
in  the  midst  are  the  damsels  playing  with  the  timbrels. 

26  Give  thanks,  O  Israel,  unto  God  the  Lord  in  the 
congregations  :  from  the  ground  of  the  heart. 

27  There  is  little  Benjamin  their  ruler,  and  the 
princes  of  Judah  their  counsel  :  the  princes  of  Zabulon, 
and  the  princes  of  Nephthali. 

28  Thy  God  hath  sent  forth  strength  for  thee  : 
stablish  the  thing,  O  God,  that  thou  hast  wrought  in  us  ; 

29  For  thy  temple's  sake  at  Jerusalem  :  so  shall 
kings  bring  presents  unto  thee. 

30  When  the  company  of  the  spearmen,  and  mul- 
titude of  the  mighty  are  scattered  abroad  among  the 
beasts  of  the  people,  so  that  they  humbl}'  bring  pieces 
of  silver  :  and  when  he  hath  scattered  the  people  that 
delight  in  war ; 

31  Then  shall  the  princes  come  out  of  Egypt  :  the 
Morians'  land  shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God. 

32  Sing  unto  God,  O  ye  kingdoms  of  the  earth  :  O 
sing  praises  unto  the  Lord  ; 

2^1  Who  sitteth  in  the  heavens  over  all  from  the 
beginning  ■;  lo,  he  doth  send  out  his  voice,  yea,  and  that 
a  mighty  voice. 

34  Ascribe  ye  the  power  to  God  over  Israel  :  liis 
worship  and  strength  is  in  the  clouds. 

35  ()  God,  wonderful  art  thou  in  thy  holy  places  : 
even  the  God  of  Israel ;  he  will  give  strength  and  power 
unto  his  people  ;  blessed  be  God. 

This  warrior  psalm,  as  Ad-  W'liitsuiiticle  has  always   been 

helm  names  it  (psalmum  sacri  regarded    in    the  Church  as  a 

certaminis),    has    chiefly    been  time  of  strength  for  battle,  and 

used     at     times     of     conflict,  the  Comforter  cheers  inen,  as 

98 


Morning  Prayer 


I'SALM   LXVIII 


Day  13 


a  trumpet  comforts  them.  The 
great  warriors,  who  often  had 
a  special  (ievoiion  to  the  Holy 
Ghost,  found  particular  delight 
in  this  psalm.  It  was  Charle- 
magne's favourite  ;  and  he  is 
said  to  have  vvriiten  the  prayer 
for  purity  in  tlie  Eucharisiic 
Oftice  for  the  "inspiration  of  the 
Holy  Spirit"  and  the  I'cni 
Creator  Spiri/us  (Come,  Holy 
Ghost),  both  of  which  contain 
echoes  of  it. 

It  was  sung  by  the  Christian 
women    under   old    Publia    in 


recollected  tlie  psalm  of  holy 
battle  and  chanted  it  loudly. 
This  put  the  enemy  to  flight, 
and  he  found  tliat  it  was  just 
here  his  devotions  had  been 
interrupted  by  sleep. 

I'erhaps  Browning  alludes  to 
these  and  similar  uses  in  his 
quotations  of  it,  "  Ring  and 
the  Book,"  ii.,  1302. 

Savonarola,  on  his  way  to 
the  ordeal  by  fire  in  the  Piazza 
in  1497,  chanted  this  psalm. 
The  enemy  were  in  this  case 
the    Franciscan     monks,    who 


defiance  of  Julian  the  Apostate    disputed  his  mission,  and  were 


(362).  They  selected  all  the 
psalms  most  likely  to  goad  that 
I'Lmperor  into  acts  of  tyranny. 
The  guard  by  his  orders  seized 
Publia  and  brought  her  to  the 
Emperor,  still  singing  this 
psalm,  and  he  disappointed  her, 
for,  instead  of  a  worse  punish- 
ment, he  ordered  her  ears  to  be 
boxed  until  they  were  red. 

When  St.  Anthony  was 
thirty-five  years  old,  he  lived 
in  a  ruined  castle.  One  day 
the  monks  heard  so  fierce  an 
altercation  f;oing  on  that  they 


the  allies  of  the  Pope,  the 
Medici,  and  the  Compagnacci, 
for  the  destruction  of  the  great 
leader. 

On  September  3,  1650, 
Oliver  Cromwell  and  his  army 
raised  this. psalm  as  they  fell 
upon  the  Scotch  at  the  battle  of 
Dunbar. 

An  old  West-Country  recipe 
for  charming  a  snake  is  to  draw 
a  circle  round  the  reptile,  sign 
the  cross,  and  repeat  the  first 
two  verses  of  this  psalm. 

Verse  1.     When     James     I. 


feared  the  people  of  the  country  came  to  the  throne,  he  was 
had  broken  in  upon  the  hermit  ; 
but  they  found  no  one,  and 
presently  they  heard  the  song 
of  triumph  ("  Let  God  arise") 
resound  from  the  castle,  and 
knew  that  Anthony  had  over- 
come his  ghostly  foes. 

St.     Dunstan,   while  he  was 
praying     before    St.     George's     image  of  death,  and  speaking 
altar  at  Glastonbury,  fell  into  a     in  a  faint  sepulchral  voice. 


asked  to  choose  a  motto  for  the 
coins  of  the  realm.  He  chose 
Ex/u-i^af  Dens  et  dissipentur 
inimici. 

Verse  20.  Dr.  Donne 
preached  from  this  verse  his 
last  sermon,  his  own  funeral 
sermon      (1631),     looking     the 


light  sleep,  and  saw  in  a  vision 
a  huge  bear  rushing  upon  him. 
He  seized  a  staff  and  smote  it, 
but  his  staff  passed  through  the 
vision  and  struck  the  walls  of 
the   church.       In    despair    he 


Verse  35.  A  voice  from 
heaven  chanted  this  to  St. 
Hugh,  the  valorous  Bishop  of 
Lincoln,  and  cheered  him  when 
he  was  in  low  s])irits  at  the 
disturbed  state  of  England. 


Liturgical  use. — Whit-Sunday  Matins. 
Latins. — Wednesday  Matins  ;   Wliit-Sunday. 
Greeks. — Tuesday  night  ;  Saturday  Nocturns. 

99 


Z»<y  13  PSALM  LX IX  Evening  Prayer 

PSALM  LXIX.     Sidvtim  mefac. 

SAVE  me,  0  God  :  for  the  waters  are  come  in,  even 
unto  my  sonl. 

2  I  stick  fast  in  the  deep  mire,  where  no  ground  is  : 
I  am  come  into  deep  waters,  so  that  the  Hoods  run 
over  me. 

3  I  am  weary  of  crying ;  iny  throat  is  dry  :  my  sight 
faileth  me  for  waiting  so  long  upon  my  God. 

4  They  that  hate  me  without  a  cause  are  more  than 
the  hairs  of  my  head  :  they  that  are  mine  enemies,  and 
would  destroy  me  guiltless,  are  mighty. 

5  I  paid  them  the  things  that  I  never  took  :  God, 
thou  knowest  my  simpleness,  and  my  faults  are  not  hid 
from  thee. 

6  Let  not  them  that  trust  in  thee,  O  Lord  God  of 
hosts,  be  ashamed  for  my  cause  :  let  not  those  that 
seek  thee  be  confounded  through  me,  O  Lord  God  of 
Israel. 

7  And  why '?  for  thy  sake  have  I  suffered  reproof  : 
shame  hath  covered  my  face. 

8  I  am  become  a  stranger  unto  my  brethren  :  even 
an  alien  unto  my  mother's  children. 

9  For  the  zeal  of  thine  house  hath  even  eaten  me  : 
and  the  rebukes  of  them  that  rebuked  thee  are  fallen 
upon  me. 

10  I  wept,  and  chastened  mj-self  with  fasting  :  and 
that  was  turned  to  my  reproof. 

11  I  put  on  sackcloth  also  :  and  they  jested  upon 
me. 

12  They  that  sit  in  the  gate  speak  against  me  :  and 
the  drunkards  make  songs  upon  me. 

13  But,  Lord,  I  make  my  prayer  unto  thee  :  in  an 
acceptable  time. 

14  Hear  me,  O  God,  in  the  multitude  of  thy  mercy  : 
even  in  the  truth  of  thy  salvation. 

15  Take  me  out  of  the  mire,  that  I  sink  not  :  O  let 
me  be  dehvered  from  them  that  liate  me,  and  out  of  the 
deep  waters. 

16  Let  not  the  water-flood  drown  me,  neither  let  the 
deep  swallow  me  up  :  and  let  not  the  pit  shut  her 
mouth  iipon  me. 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM   LX IX  Day  ^Z 

17  Hear  me,  O  Lord,  for  thy  lovinp^-kindness  is  com- 
fortable :  turn  thee  nnto  me  accordiiiff  to  the  multitude 
of  thy  mercies. 

18  And  hide  not  tliy  face  from  thy  ser\ant,  for  I  am 
in  trouble  :  O  haste  thee,  and  hear  me. 

19  Draw  nif^li  unto  my  soul,  and  save  it  :  O  deliver 
me,  because  of  mine  enemies. 

20  Thou  hast  known  my  I'eproof,  my  shame, 
and  my  dishonour  :  mine  adversaries  are  all  in  thy 
sight. 

21  Thj'  rebuke  hath  broken  my  heart;  I  am  full  of 
heaviness  :  I  looked  for  some  to  have  pity  on  me, 
but  there  was  no  man,  neither  found  I  any  to  com- 
fort me. 

22  TheN'  gave  me  gall  to  eat  :  and  when  I  was  thirsty 
they  gave  me  vinegar  to  drink. 

23  Let  their  table  be  made  a  snare  to  take  themselves 
withal  :  and  let  the  things  that  should  have  been  for 
their  wealth  be  unto  them  an  occasion  of  falling. 

24  Let  their  eyes  be  blinded,  that  they  see  not  :  and 
ever  bow  thou  down  their  backs. 

25  Pour  out  thine  indignation  upon  them  :  and  let 
thy  wrathful  displeasure  take  hold  of  them. 

26  Let  their  habitation  be  void^ :  and  no  man  to  dwell 
in  then-  tents. 

27  For  they  persecute  him  whom  thou  hast  smitten  : 
and  they  talk  how  they  may  vex  them  whom  thou  hast 
wounded. 

28  Let  them  fall  from  one  wickedness  to  another  : 
and  not  come  into  thy  righteousness. 

29  Let  them  be  wiped  out  of  the  book  of  the  living  : 
and  not  be  written  among  the  righteous. 

30  As  for  me,  when  I  am  poor  and  in  heaviness  :  thy 
help,  O  God,  shall  lift  me  up. 

31  I  will  praise  the  Name  of  God  with  a  song  :  and 
magnify  it  with  thanksgiving. 

32  This  also  shall  please  the  Lord  :  better  than  a 
bullock  that  hath  horns  and  hoofs. 

33  The  humble  shall  consider  this,  and  be  glad  :  seek 
ye  after  God.  and  your  soul  shall  live. 

34  For  the  Lord  heareth  the  poor  :  and  despiseth  not 
his  prisoners. 


Day  13  PSALM  LXX  Evening  Prayer 

35  Let  heaven  and  earth  praise  him  :  the  sea,  and  all 
that  moveth  therein. 

36  For  God  will  save  Sion,  and  build  the  cities  of 
Judah  :  that  men  may  dwell  there,  and  have  it  in 
possession. 

37  The  posterity  also  of  his  servants  shall  mherit  it : 
and  they  that  love  his  Name  shall  dwell  therein. 

This    psalm    was    used    for  this  verse  to  Christ,  when  He 

meditations  upon   the  Passion  had  cleansed  the  Temple. 
in  the  primer  of  Henry  VIH.         Verse\i^.  St.  Boniface  quoted 

It   was   a   medicine    psalm    in  this  verse  in  his  farewell  speech 

the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  cen-  to  his  friends.     He  was  waitin.ij 

turies.  for  a  number  of  confirmation 

Verse  2.      St.    Gregory   the  candidates,  and  instead  a  band 

Great  lamented  that  he  was  so  of    armed    heathen    appeared, 

buffeted  by  the  waves  of  busi-  brandishing  their  weapons,  and 

ness  and  sunk  by  fortune,  that  tlireatening    the     missionaries 

he  could  say  of  himself :  "lam  with  death.     St.  Boniface  laid 

come  into  deep  waters,  so  that  his  head  upon  the  (jospel  book 

the  floods  run  over  me."  and  was  thus  slain.     This  was 

Verse  9.      St.    John    relates  in  Friesland,  at  a  place  called 

ii.  17)  that  the  disciples  applied  iJockum  (a.d.  755). 
Liturgical  use. — Good  Friday  evening. 
Latins. — Thursday  Matins  ;  Maundy  Thursday. 

Greeks. — Tuesday  night ;  Nocturns  for  Saturday. 

PSALM  LXX.     Deus  in  adjutmium. 

HASTE  thee,  O  God,  to  deliver  me  :  make  haste  to 
help  me,  O  Lord. 

2  Let  them  be  ashamed  and  confounded  that  seek 
after  my  soul  :  let  them  be  turned  backward  and  put 
to  confusion  that  wish  me  e\al. 

3  Let  them  for  their  reward  be  soon  brought  to 
shame  :  that  cry  o^er  me.  There,  there. 

4  But  let  all  those  that  seek  thee  be  joyful  and  glad 
in  thee  :  and  let  all  such  as  delight  in  thy  salvation  sa.v 
alway,  the  Lord  be  praised. 

5  As  for  me,  I  am  poor  and  in  misery  :  haste  thee 
unto  me,  0  God. 

6  Thou  art  my  helper  and  my  redeemer  :  O  Lord, 
make  no  long  tarrying. 

Among  the  once  famous  tuned"  (1662).  He  was  a 
writers  on  the  Psalms  was  Magdalen  choir-boy,  Croydon 
William  Nicholson,  author  of  schoolmaster,  Archdeacon  of 
"  David's    Harp    strung    and     Brecknock,  a  refugee,  a  friend 

102 


Morniii!^  Prayer  PSALM  LXXI  Day  \\ 

of    Clarendon's,    and    at    last  maintained    that    the    older  a 

Hishop  of  Gloucester.     He  was  man  gets  the  more  he  loves  the 

"a  person  of  great  erudition,  Psalms.  "The  best  of  expositors 

prudence,   modesty,   and   of  a  have  presented   their  thoughts 

moderate  mind,"  says  Wood,  on    the    Psalms   in    their   riper 

meaning  by  the  last  term  that  years,  and   inade  them  one  of 

lie    was    just    and    fair.      He  their  last  works." 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  Mass  2nd  Sunday  after  Easter  (e). 
Latins. — Matins  on  Thursday  ;  Maundy  Thursday. 
Greeks. — Tuesday  night  ;    Saturday   Nocturns  ;    Mesorion  of 
sixth  hour  ;  late  Evensong  in  Lent  ;  Office  for  the  Dying. 


PSALM  LXXr.     In  fe,  Doinbie,  '^peravi. 

IN  thee,  O  Lord,  have  I  put  my  trust ;  let  me  never 
be  put  to  confusion  :  but  rid  me,  and  dehver  me,  in 
thy  righteousness ;  incHne  thine  ear  unto  me,  and  save 
me. 

2  Be  thou  my  stronghold,  whereunto  I  may  alway 
resort  :  thou  hast  promised  to  help  me ;  for  thou  art 
my  house  of  defence,  and  my  castle. 

3  Deliver  me.  O  my  God,  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
migodly  :  out  of  the  hand  of  the  unrighteous  and  cruel 
man. 

4  For  thou,  0  Lord  God,  art  the  thing  that  I  long 
for  :  thou  art  my  hope,  even  from  my  youth. 

5  Through  thee  have  I  been  holden  up  ever  since  I 
was  born  :  tliou  art  he  that  took  me  out  of  my  mother's 
womb ;  my  praise  shall  alway  be  of  thee. 

6  I  am  become  as  it  were  a  monster  unto  many  :  but 
my  sure  trust  is  in  thee. 

7  O  let  my  luouth  be  filled  with  tliy  praise  :  that  I 
may  sing  of  thy  glory  and  honour  all  the  day  long. 

8  Cast  me  not  away  in  the  time  of  age  :  forsake  me 
not  when  my  strength  faileth  me. 

9  For  mine  enemies  speak  against  me,  and  they  that 
lay  wait  for  my  soul  take  their  counsel  together,  say- 
ing :  God  hath  forsaken  him.  persecute  him,  and  take 
him  ;  for  there  is  none  to  deliver  him. 

10  Go  not  far  from  me.  O  God  :  my  God,  haste  thee 
to  help  me. 

1 1  Let   them   be   confounded   and   perish  that   are 

103 


Day  14  PSALM  LXXI  Morning  Prayer 

against  my  soul  :  let  them  be  covered  with  shame  and 
dishonour  that  seek  to  do  me  evil. 

12  As  for  me,  I  will  patiently  abide  alway  :  and  will 
praise  thee  more  and  more. 

13  My  mouth  shall  dail^'  speak  of  thy  righteousness 
and  salvation  :  for  I  know  no  end  thereof. 

14  I  will  go  forth  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord  God  : 
and  will  make  mention  of  thy  righteousness  only. 

15  Thou,  O  God,  hast  taught  me  from  my  youth  up 
until  now  :  therefore  will  I  tell  of  thy  wondrous  works. 

16  Forsake  me  not,  O  God,  in  mine  old  age,  when  I 
am  gray-headed  :  until  I  have  shewed  thy  strength 
unto  this  generation,  and  thy  power  to  all  them  that 
are  yet  for  to  come. 

17  Thy  righteousness,  O  God,  is  very  high,  and  great 
things  are  they  that  thou  hast  done  :  O  God,  who  is 
like  unto  thee '? 

18  O  what  great  troubles  and  adversities  hast  thou 
shewed  me  !  and  yet  didst  thou  turn  and  refresh  me  : 
yea,  and  broughtest  me  from  the  deep  of  the  earth  again. 

19  Thou  hast  brought  me  to  great  honour  :  and 
comforted  me  on  every  side. 

20  Therefore  will  I  praise  thee  and  th.\-  faithfulness, 
O  God,  pla^dng  upon  an  instrument  of  musick  :  unto 
thee  will  I  sing  upon  the  harp,  O  tho\i  Holy  One  of  Israel. 

21  My  lips  will  be  fain  when  I  sing  unto  thee  ;  and 
so  will  my  soul  whom  thou  hast  delivered. 

22  My  tongue  also  shall  talk  of  thy  righteousness  all 
the  day  long  :  for  they  are  confounded  and  brought 
unto  shame  that  seek  to  do  me  evil. 

This    is    one    of    the    Dirge  Bishop  Fisher  recited   it  on 

psalms  (see  note  on  Psalm  v.)  his   way  to   the  scaffold   from 

in   the  English   Dirge   for   tlie  the'.  Tower ;    and    the   blessed 

Dead.  Thomas  Cottam  on    the   scaf- 

This  psalm,  though  it  is  one  fold  in  1568.  It  was  sung  to 
made  up  out  of  texts  from  Bishop  Jewel  on  his  death-bed, 
other  psalms,  has  been  much  and  he  joined  in  as  well  as  his 
used  by  Christians  in  their  last  feeble  strength  would  allow 
hours.  Its  leading  thoughts  him.  Kirke  Wliitc  alludes  to 
were  embodied  by  Mary  it  in  his  prayer  found  on  the  fly- 
Queen  of  Scots,  in  a  passionate  leaf  in  his  memorandum  book. 
Latin  hymn  she  wrote  before  It  is  this  "  composition 
her  execution  :  O  Domint'  Jesii.  psalm"  which  determined  the 
speravi  in  ie.  compilers  of  our   Prayer-book 

104 


Morning  Prayer  PSALMLXXII  Day  r\ 

to  compose  psalms,  in  the  same  /  'ersc  8.    Wlien  George  Her- 

way,  for  the  King's  Accession  bert  was  dying  lie  quoted  these 

and   for  Thanksgiving  after  a  words,  "  Lord,  forsake  me  not 

Victory  at  Sea.  when  my  strength  faileth  ;  but 

Verse  J.      This  was  used  in  grant  nie  mercy  for  the  merits 

the    Anglo-Saxon     office     of  of  my  Jesus.     And  now,  Lord 

Prime,    very    early    translated  — Lord,  now  receive  my  soul." 
into  the  English  tongue. 

Liturgical  use. — Visitation  of  the  sick. 

Latins. — Tluirsday  morning  ;  Maundy  Thursday. 

Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 

PSALM  LXXII.     Demjudirium. 

GIVE  the  King  thy  judgements,  O  God  :  and  thy 
righteousness  unto  the  King's  son. 

2  Then  shall  he  judge  thy  people  according  unto 
right  :  and  defend  the  poor. 

3  The  mountains  also  shall  liring  peace  :  and  the 
little  hills  righteousness  unto  the  people. 

4  He  shall  keep  the  simple  folk  by  their  right  :  de- 
fend the  children  of  the  poor,  and  prmish  the  wrong 
doer. 

5  They  shall  fear  tliee,  as  long  as  the  sun  and  moon 
endureth  :  from  one  generation  to  another. 

6  He  shall  come  down  like  the  rain  into  a  fleece  of 
wool  :  even  as  the  drops  that  water  the  earth. 

7  In  his  time  shall  the  righteous  flourish  :  yea,  and 
abundance  of  peace,  so  long  as  the  moon  endureth. 

8  His  dominion  shall  be  also  from  the  one  sea  to  the 
other  :  and  from  the  flood  unto  the  world's  end. 

9  They  that  dwell  in  the  wilderness  shall  kneel  be- 
fore him  :  his  enemies  shall  lick  the  dust. 

10  The  kings  of  Thar  sis  and  of  the  isles  shall  give 
presents  :  the  kings  of  Arabia  and  Saba  shall  bring 
gifts. 

1 1  All  kings  shall  fall  down  before  him  :  all  nations 
shall  do  him  service. 

1 2  For  he  shall  deliver  the  poor  when  he  crieth  :  the 
needy  also,  and  him  that  hath  no  helper. 

13  He  shall  be  favourable  to  the  simple  and  needy  : 
and  shall  preserve  the  souls  of  the  poor. 

14  He  shall  deli\er  their  souls  from  falsehood  and 
wrong  :  and  dear  shall  their  blood  be  in  his  sight. 


Day  14  PSALM  LXXIII  Evening  Prayer 

1 5  He  shall  live,  and  unto  him  shaU  be  given  of  the 
gold  of  Arabia  :  prayei*  shall  be  made  ever  unto  him, 
and  daily  shall  he  be  praised. 

1 6  There  shall  be  an  heap  of  corn  in  the  earth,  high 
upon  the  hills  :  his  fruit  shall  shake  like  Libanus,  and 
shall  be  green  in  the  citj'  like  gi'ass  upon  the  earth. 

1 7  His  name  shall  endm'e  for  ever  ;  his  name  shall 
remain  under  the  sun  among  the  posterities  :  which 
shall  be  blessed  through  him ;  and  all  the  heathen 
shall  praise  him. 

1 8  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God,  even  the  God  of  Israel  : 
which  only  doeth  wondrous  things  ; 

19  And  blessed  be  the  Name  of  his  Majesty  for  ever  : 
and  all  the  earth  shall  be  liUed  with  his  Majesty. 
Amen,  Amen. 

This  noble  ideal  of  kingship  make   the   earth    heavenly,    as 

has  moulded  the  lives  of  many  he   could,    instead   of  walking 

devout  sovereigns,  among  them  sumptuously     and      pridefully 

King    Alfred,    and     Edmund  with     Mammon,    leaving     the 

of    Thetford,    the   martyr  and  earth  to  grow  hellish  as  it  liked, 

St.     Sebastian      of     England,  seen   and    felt   by   all   men   to 

Of    the    latter    Carlyle    says,  have  done  a  man's  part  in  this 

"  How  then,  may  it  be  asked,  life-pilgrimage     of     his  ;     and 

did     this    Edmund    rise     into  benedictions    and    overflowing 

favour?    Really,  except  it  were  love  and  admiration  from  the 

by    doing    justly    and    loving  universal  heart  were  his  meed, 

mercy  to  an  unprecedented  e.x-  '  Well  done  !  well  done  !'  cried 

tent,    we   do   not   know.     Tlie  the  hearts  of  all  men." 

man,    it    would     seem,    'had  Ferses    10   and  11.      These 

walked,' as  they  say,   'humbly  verse?   have    caused    the    wise 

with    God  ■ — humbly  and  vali-  men  from  the  East  to  be  repre- 

antly  with  God,  struggling  to  sented  in  .Art  as  three  kings. 

Latins. — Thursday  Matins  ;  Christmas  ;  Epiphany  ;  Maundy 

Thursday  :  Trinity  Sunday. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning;. 


PSALM  LXXIII.     Qmm  honu.-^  Israel.' 

TRULY  God  is  loving  imto  Israel  :  even  unto  such 
as  are  of  a  clean  heart. 

2  Nevertheless,  my  feet  were  almost  gone  :  my  tread- 
ings  had  well-nigh  slipt. 

3  And  why  ?  I  was  giieved  at  the  wicked  :  I  do  also 
see  tlie  ungodly  in  such  prosperity. 

106 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  LXXIII  Day  \/\, 

4  For  they  are  in  no  peril  of  death  :  but  are  lusty 
and  strong. 

5  They  come  in  no  misfortune  hke  other  folk  :  neither 
are  they  plagued  like  other  men. 

6  And  this  is  the  cause  that  they  are  so  liolden  with 
pride  ;  and  overwhelmed  with  cruelty. 

7  Their  eyes  swell  with  fatness  :  and  they  do  even 
what  they  lust. 

8  They  corrupt  other,  and  speak  of  wicked  blas- 
phemy :  their  talking  is  against  the  most  High. 

9  For  they  stretch  forth  their  mouth  unto  the 
heaven  :  and  their  tongue  goeth  through  the  world. 

10  Therefore  fall  the  people  unto  them  :  and  there- 
out suck  they  no  small  advantage. 

11  "  Tush,"'  say  they,  "  how  should  God  perceive  it : 
is  there  knowledge  in  the  most  High  '?" 

12  Lo,  these  are  the  ungodly,  these  prosper  in  the 
world,  and  these  have  riches  in  possession  :  and  I  said. 
"  Then  have  I  cleansed  my  heart  in  vain,  and  washed 
mine  hands  in  innocency. 

13  "All  the  day  long  have  I  been  punished  :  and 
chastened  every  mo'^ning." 

14  Yea,  and  I  had  almost  said  "'  even  as  they  ''  :  but 
lo,  then  I  should  have  condemned  the  generation  of  thy 
children. 

15  Then  thought  I  to  understand  this  :  but  it  was 
too  hard  for  nae, 

16  Until  I  went  into  the  sanctuary  of  God  :  then 
understood  I  the  end  of  these  men  ; 

17  Namely,  how  thou  dost  set  them  in  slippery 
places  :  and  castest  them  down,  and  destroyest  them. 

18  Oh,  how  suddenly  do  they  consume  :  perish,  and 
come  to  a  fearful  end  ! 

19  Yea,  even  like  as  a  dream  when  one  awaketh  : 
so  shalt  thou  make  their  image  to  vanish  out  of  the 
city. 

20  Thus  my  heart  was  grieved  :  and  it  went  even 
through  my  reins. 

21  So  foolish  was  I,  and  ignorant  :  even  as  it  were  a 
beast  before  thee. 

22  Nevertheless,  I  am  alway  by  thee  :  for  thou  hast 
holden  me  bv  my  right  hand. 

107 


Day  14  PSALM  LXXIV  Evening  Prayer 

23  Thou  shalt  ^uide  me  with  thy  counsel  :  and  after 
that  receive  nie  with  glory. 

24  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  :  and  there  is 
none  upon  earth  that  I  desire  in  comparison  of  thee. 

25  M.J  tlesh  and  my  heart  faileth  :  but  God  is  the 
strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  for  ever. 

26  For  lo,  they  that  forsake  thee  shall  perish  :  thou 
hast  destroyed  all  them  that  connnit  fornication  against 
thee. 

27  But  it  is  good  for  ine  to  hold  me  fast  by  God,  to 
put  my  trust  in  the  Lord  God  :  and  to  speak  of  all  thy 
works  in  the  gates  of  the  daughter  of  Sion. 

Verse  17.  St.  Gregory  the  sor,  Lord  Leicester,  thus  corn- 
Great  pathetically  applies  these  merits  upon  the  executions  of 
words  to  his  own  great  busy  the  Duke  of  Hamilton,  Lord 
life,  amid  the  earthly  cares  of  Capel,  and  Lord  Holland  "on 
which  he  was  prevented  "from  a  cold  March  morning,  1650," 
thinking,  much  more  from  "  So  the  glory  of  the  world 
preaching  publicly,  of  the  mi-  passes  away,  and  those  that 
raculous  works  of  the  Lord."  think  themselves  to  be  great 
"  Overwhelmed  by  the  tuiimlt  and  happy  and  safe  are  sette  in 
of  secular  affairs,  I  am  one  of  slippery  places,  perish,  and 
those,"  he  says,  "  of  whom  it  is  come  to  a  fearfull  end." 
written,  '  Thou  dost  set  them  Verse  25.  Charles  Wesley, 
in  slippery  places  :  and  castest  when  dying,  wrote  a  hymn 
them  down.'  "  from  these  words. 

Verse  17.    Strafford's  succes- 

Latins. — Thursday  Matins  ;    Maundy  Thursday  (the  eve  of 

the  Passion). 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 


PSALM  LXXIV.     Vt  quid,  Dem  .? 

OGOD,  wherefore  art  thou  absent  from  us  so  long  : 
why  is  thy  wrath  so  hot  against  the  sheep  of  thy 
pasture  ? 

2  O  think  upon  thy  congregation  :  wliom  thou  hast 
purchased,  and  redeemed  of  old. 

3  Think   upon  the  tribe  of   thine  inheritance  :  and 
mount  Sion,  wherein  thou  hast  dwelt. 

4  Lift  up  thy  feet,  tliat  thou  uiayest  utterly  destroy 
every  enemy  :  which  hath  done  evil  in  tliy  sanctuarj-. 

5  Thine  adversaries  roar  in  tlie  midst  of  thy  congre- 
gations :  and  set  up  their  banners  for  tokens. 

108 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  LXXIV  Day  14 

6  He  that  hewed  timber  afore  out  of  the  thick  trues  : 
was  known  to  brin^'  it  to  an  excellent  work. 

7  But  now  they  break  down  all  the  carved  work 
thereof  :  with  axes  and  hammers. 

8  They  have  set  fire  upon  thy  holy  places  :  and  have 
defiled  the  dwelluag-place  of  thy  Name,  even  unto  the 
ground. 

9  Yea,  thej'  said  in  their  hearts,  "  Let  us  make  havock 
of  them  altogether  "  :  thus  have  they  burnt  up  all  the 
houses  of  God  in  the  land. 

10  We  see  not  our  tokens,  there  is  not  one  prophet 
more  :  no,  not  one  is  there  among  us,  that  understandeth 
any  more. 

1 1  O  God,  how  long  shall  the  adversary  do  this  dis- 
honour :  how  long  shall  the  enemy  blaspheme  thy 
Name,  for  ever  ? 

1 2  AVhy  withdrawest  thou  thy  hand  :  why  pluckest 
thou  not  thy  right  hand  out  of  thy  bosom  to  consume 
the  enemy '? 

13  For  God  is  my  King  of  old  :  the  help  that  is  done 
upon  earth  he  doeth  it  himself. 

14  Thou  didst  divide  the  sea  through  thy  power  : 
thou  brakest  the  heads  of  the  dragons  in  the  waters. 

1 5  Thou  smotest  the  heads  of  Leviathan  in  pieces  : 
and  gavest  him  to  be  meat  for  the  people  in  the  wilder- 
ness. 

16  Thou  broughtest  out  fountains  and  waters  out  of 
the  hard  rocks  :  thou  driedest  up  mighty  waters. 

17  The  day  is  thine,  and  the  night  is  thine  :  thou 
hast  prepared  the  light  and  the  sun. 

18  Thou  hast  set  all  the  borders  of  the  earth  :  thou 
hast  made  sunnner  and  winter. 

19  Remember  this,  O  Lord,  how  the  enemy  hath  re- 
buked :  and  how  the  foolish  people  hath  blasphemed 
thy  Name. 

20  O  deliver  not  the  soul  of  thy  turtle-dove  unto  the 
multitude  of  the  enemies  :  and  forget  not  the  congre- 
gation of  the  poor  for  ever. 

21  Look  upon  the  covenant  :  for  all  the  earth  is  full 
of  darkness,  and  cruel  habitations. 

22  O  let  not  the  simple  go  away  ashamed  :  but  let 
the  poor  and  needy  give  praise  unto  thy  Name. 

109 


Day  IS 


PSALM  LXXV 


Morning  Prayer 


23  Arise,  O  God,  maintain  thine  own  cause  :  re- 
member liow  the  foolish  man  blaspliemeth  thee  daily. 

24  Forget  not  the  voice  of  thine  enemies  :  the  pre- 
sumption of  them  that  hate  thee  increaseth  ever  more 
and  more. 


This  psalm  was  much  used 
in  the  great  northern  rebelhon, 
the  Pilgrimage  of  Grace,  1537, 
which  followed  the  suppression 
of  the  abbeys.  Robert  Aske, 
the  leader,  accounts  for  the  re- 
volt, saying  that  in  the  North 
' '  the  abbeys  gave  great  alms  to 
poor  men,  and  laudably  served 
God.  In  which  parts,  of  late 
days,  they  had  but  small  com- 
fort of  ghostly  teaching  ;  and 
by  occasion  of  the  said  sup- 
pression the  divine  service  of 
Almighty  God  is  much  di- 
minislied,  great  numbers  of 
Masses  unsaid,  and  the  blessed 
consecration  of  the  Sacrament 
now  not  used  and  showed  in 
those  places,  to  the  distress  of 
the  faith  and  spiritual  comfort 
to  man's  soul.  The  temple  of 
God  (is  now)  razed  and  pulled 


down  ;  the  ornamentsand  relics 
of  the  Church  of  God  unre- 
verently  used  ;  the  tombs  and 
sepulchres  of  honourable  and 
noble  men  pulled  down  and 
sold." 

Emanuel  Swedenborg  —  be- 
loved of  Coleridge — concluded 
from  the  same  psalm  that  "  The 
Church,  with  all  things  belong- 
ing thereto,  has  been  entirely 
destroyed  and  its  holy  things 
profaned,"  and  that  he  was 
commissioned  to  refound  and 
reconsecrate  it  (1688-1772). 

Verse  17.  Tuns  csl  dies  et 
tua  est  nox :  tu  fabricatus  es 
am-oram  et  solem.  This  is  the 
dial  motto  at  Maxey  Vicarage, 
Northampton. 

Verse  24.  A'e  obliviscaris  is 
the  old  motto  of  the  Dukes  of 
Argyle. 


Latins. — Thursday  Matins  ;  Maundy  Thursday   (eve  of  the 

Passion). 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 


PSALM  LXXV.     Conjiiebimur  tibi. 

UNTO  thee,  O  God,  do  we  give  thanks  :  yea,  unto 
thee  do  we  give  thanks. 

2  Thy  Name  also  is  so  nigh  :  and  that  do  thy  won- 
drous works  declare. 

3  "  When  I  receive  the  congregation  :  I  shall  judge 
according  unto  right. 

4  "  The  earth  is  weak,  and  all  the  inhabiters  thereof : 
I  bear  up  the  pillars  of  it. 

5  "  I  said  unto  the  fools.  Deal  not  so  madly  :  and  to 
the  ungodly.  Set  not  up  your  horn." 

1 10 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  LXXVI  Day  15 

6  Set  not  up  your  horn  on  liigh  :  and  speak  not  witli 
a  stift'  neck. 

7  For  promotion  conietli  neither  from  the  east,  nor 
from  the  west  :  nor  yet  from  the  south. 

8  And  why  '?  God  is  the  Judge  :  he  putteth  down 
one,  and  setteth  up  another. 

9  For  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord  there  is  a  cup,  and  the 
wine  is  red  :  it  is  full  mixed,  and  he  poureth  out  of  the 
same. 

10  As  for  the  dregs  thereof  :  all  the  ungodly  of  the 
earth  shall  drink  them,  and  suck  them  out. 

1 1  But  I  will  talk  of  the  God  of  Jacob  :  and  praise 
him  for  ever. 

12  All  the  horns  of  the  ungodly  also  will  I  break  : 
and  the  horns  of  the  righteous  shall  be  exalted. 

Sir   Walter   Raleigh,   in    his  piety  and  his  excellent    learn- 

"  History  of  the  World"  (a  book  iiig,     of    whom      Jerome     to 

which     Cromwell     loved     and  Paulinus  :    'David,'    saith   he, 

studied),  has  an  interesting  note  'our  Simonides,  Pindarus,  and 

on  the  Psalter.     "  For  his   in-  Alca;us,  Horatius  Catullus  and 

ternal  gifts  and  graces  David  Serenus,  playeih  Christ  on  his 

so  far  exceeded  all  other  men,  harp,    and    on   a    ten-stringed 

as,   putting   his   human   frailty  lute  raiseth  Him  up  rising  from 

apart,  he  was  said  by  God  Him-  the  dead.     And  being  both  a 

self  to  be  a  man  according  to  king  and  prophet,  he foretelleth 

His   own    heart.     The   psalms  Christ    more    lightsomely   and 

which    he    wrote    instance  his  lively  than  all  the  rest. '  " 

Liturgical    7ise. — Introit    for    the    Mass    3rd    Sunday   after 
Easter  (e). 
;    Latins. — Thursday  Matins  ;  Maundy  Thursday  ;  Apostles  and 
Evangelists. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 

PSALM  LXXVI.     Notm  in  Judcea. 

IN   Jewry    is    God   known   :  his    name    is   great   in 
Israel. 

2  At  Salem  is  his  tabernacle  :  and  his  dwelling  in 
Sion. 

3  There  brake  he  the  arrows  of  the  bow  :  the  shield, 
the  sword,  and  the  battle. 

4  Thou  art  of  more  honour  and  might  :  than  the 
hills  of  the  robbers. 

5  The  proud  are  robbed,  they  have  slept  their  sleep : 

1 1 1 


Day  IS  PSALM  LXXVII  Morning  Prayer 

and  all  the  men  whose  hands  were  mighty  have  found 
nothing. 

6  At  thy  rebuke,  O  God  of  Jacob  :  both  the  chariot 
and  horse  are  fallen. 

7  Thou,  even  thou  art  to  be  feared  :  and  who  may 
stand  in  thy  sight  when  thou  art  angry  ? 

8  Thou  didst  cause  thy  judgement  to  be  heard  from 
heaven  :  the  earth  trembled,  and  was  still, 

9  When  God  arose  to  judgement  :  and  to  help  all 
the  meek  upon  earth. 

10  The  fierceness  of  man  shall  turn  to  thy  praise  : 
and  the  fierceness  of  them  shalt  thou  refrain. 

1 1  Promise  unto  the  Lord  your  God,  and  keep  it,  all 
ye  that  are  round  about  him  :  bring  presents  unto  him 
that  ought  to  be  feared. 

12  He  shall  refrain  the  spirit  of  princes  :  and  is 
wonderful  among  the  kings  of  the  earth. 

This      psalm     was     Charles         Verse   ii.    When  St.   Bona- 

Kingsley's  favourite  :  he  called  ventura  (the   Seraphic  doctor) 

it  "my  psalm."  was  twenty-two  years  old,  he 

The    rebel     covenanters    at  was      meditating     upon     this 

Drumclog  (in  1649),  so  vividly  verse,     he    remembered     that 

described    by   Scott    in    "Old  when    he    was    a    child,    and 

Mortality,"  sang  this  psalm.    It  near  death  with   sickness,   his 

had    been  sung  in  Edinburgh  mother    had   promised  him  to 

at  the  defeat  of    the  Armada,  St.    Francis.     He   then  joined 

and    in  many  of  the    London  that  order, 
churches  at  the  same  news. 

Latins. — Thursday  morning  ;  Maundy  Thursday  ;  Easter  Eve. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 


PSALM  LXXVII.     Voce  men  ad  Dominum. 

I  WILL  cry  unto  God  ^vith  my  voice  :  even  unto 
God   will    I    cry  with   my  voice,  and  he    shall 
hearken  unto  me." 

2  In  the  time  of  my  trouble  I  souglit  the  Lord  :  my 
sore  ran,  and  ceased  not  in  the  niglit-season  ;  my  soul 
refused  comfort. 

3  "  When  I  am  in  heaviness,  I  will  think  upon  God  : 
when  my  heart  is  vexed,  I  will  complain." 

4  Thou  boldest  mine  eyes  waking  :  I  am  so  feeble, 
that  I  cannot  speak. 

1 12 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  LXXVII  Day  Xt^ 

5  I  have  considered  the  days  of  old  :  and  the  years 
that  are  past. 

6  I  call  to  remembi-ance  my  song  :  and  in  the  night 
I  commune  with  mine  own  heart,  and  search  out  my 
spirits. 

7  "  "Will  the  Lord  absent  himself  for  ever  :  and  will 
he  be  no  moi-e  iiitreated  ? 

8  "Is  his  mercy  clean  gone  for  ever  :  and  is  his 
promise  come  utterly  to  an  end  for  evermore  ? 

9  "  Hath  God  forgotten  to  be  gracious  :  and  will  he 
shut  up  his  loving-kinthiess  in  displeasure?" 

10  And  I  said,  "  It  is  mine  own  infirmity  :  but  I  will 
remember  the  years  of  the  right  hand  of  the  most 
Highest. 

11  "I  wiU  remember  the  works  of  the  Lord  :  and 
call  to  mind  thy  wonders  of  old  time. 

12  "I  will  think  also  of  all  thy  works  :  and  my 
talking  shall  be  of  thy  doings." 

13  Thy  way,  O  God,  is  holy  :  who  is  so  great  a  God 
as  our  God  '? 

14  Thou  art  the  God  that  doeth  wonders  :  and  hast 
declared  thy  power  among  the  people," 

15  Thou  hast  mightilj'  delivered  thy  people  :  even 
the  sons  of  .lacob  and  Joseph. 

16  The  watei's  saw  thee,  O  God,  the  waters  saw  thee, 
and  were  afraid  :  the  depths  also  were  troubled. 

17  The  clouds  poured  out  water,  the  air  thundered  : 
and  thine  arrows  went  abroad. 

1 8  The  voice  of  thy  thunder  was  heard  round  about : 
the  lightnings  shone  upon  the  ground ;  the  earth  was 
moved,  and  shook  withal. 

1 9  Thy  way  is  in  the  sea,  and  thy  paths  in  the  great 
waters  :  and  thy  footsteps  are  not  known. 

20  Thou  leddest  thy  people  like  sheep  :  by  the  hand 
of  Moses  and  Aaron. 

This  is  the  psalm  Bishop  most  solid  substance,  was  that 
Hooper  recommended  to  his  reply  made  by  the  old  Car- 
wife  "  when  you  find  yourself  thusian  monk  to  the  trifier  who 
too  much  oppressed."  He  had  asked  him  how  he  managed  to 
just  been  condemned  to  be  get  through  his  life.  Cogitavi 
burned.  dies  antiqiios  et  annos  ceternos 
I'ersee,.  "  Not  pathetic  only,  in  7)teiite  habui"  (M.  Arnold, 
but  profound  also,  and  of  the  on  the  study  of  history). 
113  I 


D,iyis  PSALM  LXXVIII  Evening  Prayer 

Latins.  —  Matins  on  Thursday  ;  Maundy  Thursday. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 


PSALM  LXXVIII.     Aitendite,  popule. 

HEAR  my  law,  O  my  people  :  incline  your  ears  unto 
the  words  of  my  mouth. 

2  I  will  open  my  mouth  in  a  parable  :  I  will  declare 
hard  sentences  of  old  ; 

3  Which  we  have  heard  and  known  :  and  such  as 
our  fathers  have  told  us  ; 

4  That  we  should  not  hide  them  from  the  children 
of  the  generations  to  come  :  but  to  shew  the  honour  of 
the  Lord,  his  mighty  and  wonderful  works  that  he 
hath  done. 

5  He  made  a  covenant  with  Jacob,  and  gave  Israel 
a  law  :  which  he  commanded  our  forefathers  to  teach 
their  children ; 

6  That  their  posterity  might  know  it  :  and  the 
cliildren  which  were  yet  unborn  ; 

7  To  the  intent  that  when  they  came  up  :  they  miglit 
sliew  their  children  the  same; 

8  That  they  might  put  their  trust  in  God  :  and  not 
to  forget  the  works  of  God,  but  to  keep  his  command- 
ments ; 

9  And  not  to  be  as  their  forefathers,  a  faithless  and 
stubborn  generation  :  a  generation  that  set  not  their 
heart  aright,  and  whose  spirit  cleaveth  not  stedfastly 
unto  God ; 

10  Like  as  the  children  of  Ephraim  :  who  being  har- 
nessed, and  carrying  bows,  turned  themselves  back  in 
the  day  of  battle. 

1 1  They  kept  not  the  covenant  of  God  :  and  would 
not  walk  in  his  law ; 

12  But  forgat  what  he  had  done  :  and  the  wonderful 
works  that  he  had  sliewed  for  them. 

13  Marvellous  tilings  did  he  in  the  sight  of  our  fore- 
fathers, in  the  land  of  Egypt  :   even  in  the  field  of  Zoan. 

14  He  divided  the  sea,  and  let  them  go  through  :  he 
made  the  waters  to  stand  on  an  heap. 

I  5  In  the  day-time  also  lie  led  them  with  a  cloud  : 
and  all  the  night  through  with  a  light  of  lire. 

16  He  clave  the  hard  rocks  in  the  mlderness  :  and 
114 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  LXXVIII  Day  \^ 

gave  tluin  drink  thereof,  as  it  had  been  out  of  the 
great  depth. 

17  He  brought  waters  out  of  the  stony  rock  :  so  that 
it  gushed  out  like  the  rivers. 

18  Yet  for  all  this  they  sinned  more  against  hiiu  : 
and  provoked  the  most  Highest  in  the  wilderness. 

1 9  They  tempted  (lod  in  their  hearts  :  and  required 
meat  for  tlieir  lust. 

20  They  spake  against  God  also,  saying  :  Shall  God 
prepare  a  table  in  the  wilderness '? 

.  21  He  smote  the  stony  rock  indeed,  that  the  water 
gushed  out,  and  the  streams  flowed  withal  :  but  can  he 
give  bread  also,  or  provide  flesh  for  his  people  ? 

22  AVhen  the  Lord  heard  this,  he  was  wroth  :  so  the 
fire  was  kindled  in  Jacob,  and  there  came  up  heavy 
displeasure  against  Israel ; 

23  Because  thej'  believed  not  in  God  :  and  put  not 
their  trust  in  his  help. 

24  So  he  commanded  the  clouds  above  :  and  opened 
the  doors  of  heaven. 

25  He  rained  down  manna  also  upon  them  for  to  eat : 
and  gave  them  food  from  heaven. 

26  So  man  did  eat  angels'  food  :  for  he  sent  them 
meat  enough. 

27  He  caused  the  east  wind  to  blow  under  heaven  : 
and  through  his  power  he  brought  in  the  south-west 
AA  ind. 

28  He  rained  flesh  upon  them  as  thick  as  dust  :  and 
feathered  fowls  like  as  the  sand  of  the  sea. 

2y  He  let  it  fall  among  their  tents  :  even  round 
about  their  habitation. 

30  So  they  did  eat,  and  were  well  filled ;  for  he  gave 
them  their  own  desire  :  they  were  not  disappointed  of 
their  lust. 

3  (  But  while  the  meat  was  j'et  in  their  mouth,  the 
heavy  wrath  of  God  came  upon  them,  and  slew  the 
wealthiest  of  them  :  yea,  and  smote  down  the  chosen 
men  that  were  in  Israel. 

32  But  for  all  this  they  sinned  yet  more  :  and  be- 
lieved not  his  wondrous  works. 

33  Therefore  their  days  did  he  consume  in  vanity  : 
and  their  years  in  trouble. 

1 1; 


Day  15  PSALM  I.XXVIII  Evening  Prayer 

34  When  he  slew  them,  they  sought  hini  :  and 
turned  them  early,  and  inquired  after  God. 

35  And  they  remembered  that  God  was  their 
strength  :  and  that  the  high  God  was  their  redeemer. 

36  Nevertheless,  they  did  but  flatter  him  with  their 
mouth  :  and  dissembled  with  him  in  their  tongue. 

37  For  their  heart  was  not  whole  with  him  :  neither 
continued  they  stedfast  in  his  covenant. 

38  But  he  was  so  merciful,  that  he  forgave  their 
misdeeds  :  and  destroyed  them  not. 

39  Yea,  many  a  time  turned  he  his  wrath  away  : 
and  would  not  suffer  his  whole  displeasure  to  arise. 

40  For  he  considered  that  they  were  but  flesh  :  and 
that  they  were  even  a  wind  that  passeth  away,  and 
cometh  not  again. 

41  Many  a  time  did  they  provoke  him  in  the  wilder- 
ness :  and  grieved  him  in  the  desert. 

42  They  turned  back,  and  tempted  God  :  and  mo^'ed 
the  Holy  One  in  Israel. 

43  They  thought  not  of  his  hand  :  and  of  the  day 
when  he  delivered  them  from  the  hand  of  the  enemy ; 

44  How  he  had  wrought  his  miracles  in  Egypt  :  and 
his  wonders  in  the  field  of  Zoan. 

45  He  turned  their  waters  into  blood  :  so  that  they 
might  not  drink  of  the  rivers. 

46  He  sent  lice  among  them,  and  devoured  them  up  : 
and  frogs  to  destro.y  them. 

47  He  gave  their  fruit  unto  the  caterpillar  :  and 
their  labour  unto  the  grasshopper. 

48  He  destroyed  their  vines  with  hail-stones  :  and 
their  mulberry-trees  with  the  frost. 

49  He  smote  their  cattle  also  with  hail-stones  :  and 
their  flocks  with  hot  thunderbolts. 

50  He  cast  upon  them  the  furiousness  of  his  ■wTath, 
anger,  displeasure,  and  trouble  :  and  sent  evil  angels 
among  them. 

51  He  made  a  way  to  his  indignation,  and  spared 
not  their  soul  from  death  :  but  gave  their  life  over  to 
the  pestilence  ; 

52  And  smote  all  the  first-born  in  Egypt  :  the 
most  principal  and  mightiest  in  the  dwellings  of 
Ham. 

116 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  LXX  VI 1 1  Day  \z, 

53  But  as  for  his  own  people,  he  led  them  foi'th  like 
sheep  :  and  carried  them  in  the  wilderness  like  a  Hock. 

54  He  brouf^ht  them  out  safely,  that  they  should  not 
fear  :  and  overwhelmed  their  enemies  with  the  sea, 

55  And  brought  them  within  the  borders  of  his 
sanctuary  :  even  to  his  mountain  which  he  purchased 
with  his  right  hand. 

56  He  cast  out  the  heathen  also  before  them  :  caused 
their  land  to  be  divided  among  them  for  an  heritage, 
and  made  the  tribes  of  Israel  to  dwell  in  their  tents. 

57  So  they  tempted,  and  displeased  the  most  high 
God  :  and  kept  not  his  testimonies  ; 

58  But  turned  their  backs,  and  fell  away  like  their 
forefathers  :  starting  aside  like  a  broken  bow. 

59  For  they  grieved  him  with  their  hill-altars  :  and 
provoked  him  to  displeasure  with  their  images. 

60  AMien  God  heard  this,  he  was  wroth  :  and  took 
sore  displeasure  at  Israel. 

61  So  that  he  forsook  the  tabernacle  in  Silo  :  even 
the  tent  that  he  had  pitched  among  men. 

62  He  delivered  their  power  into  captivity  :  and 
their  beauty  into  the  enem3''s  hand. 

63  He  gave  his  people  over  also  unto  the  sword  :  and 
was  wroth  with  his  inheritance. 

64  The  fire  consumed  their  young  men  :  and  their 
maidens  were  not  given  to  luarriage. 

65  Their  priests  were  slain  with  the  sword  :  and 
there  were  no  widows  to  make  lamentation. 

66  So  the  Lord  awaked  as  one  out  of  sleep  :  and 
like  a  giant  refreshed  with  wine. 

67  He  smote  his  enemies  in  the  liinder  parts  :  and 
put  them  to  a  perpetual  shame. 

68  He  refused  the  tabernacle  of  Joseph  :  and  chose 
not  the  tribe  of  Ephraim  ; 

69  But  chose  the  tribe  of  Judah  :  even  the  hill  of 
Sion  which  he  loved. 

70  And  there  he  built  his  temple  on  higli  :  and  laid 
the  foundation  of  it  like  the  ground  which  he  hath 
made  continually. 

71  He  chose  David  also  his  servant  :  and  took  him 
away  from  the  sheep-folds. 

72  As  lie  was  following  the  ewes  great  with  young 

117 


Day  16 


PSALM  LXXrX 


Morning  Prayer 


ones  he  took  him  :  that  he  might  feed  Jacob  his  people, 
and  Israel  his  inheritance. 

73  So  he  fed  them  with  a  faithful  and  true  heart  : 
and  ruled  them  prudently  with  all  his  power. 

most  barbarous  of  churches — 


Uppingham  boys  will  like  to 
know  that  this  was  the  last 
psalm  read  in  the  school  by 
Edward  Thring,  their  great 
head-master,  before  he  died, 
"  weary,  ill  and  battered." 
Many  of  those  who  knew  him 
felt  that  the  last  verse  was  one 


the  Abyssinian — the  Psalter  is 
treated  almost  as  an  idol,  is 
the  only  book  allowed  to  be 
read  by  the  children  of  the 
laity,  and  is  sung  through  from 
end  to  end  at  every  funeral. 
In     the     most     Protestant     of 


that    exactly    summed    up    his     churches — the  Presbyterians  of 


own  head-mastership. 

"  Of  the  other  Scriptures," 
says  Theodore  in  the  fifth  cen- 
tury, "  the  generality  of  men 
know  next  to  nothing.  But 
the  Psalms  you  will  find  again 
and  again  repeated  in  private 
houses,  in  market  places,  in 
streets,  by  those  who  have 
learned  them  by  heart,  and 
who  soothe  themselves  by  their 
divine  melody. "  "  When  other 
parts  of  Scripture  are  used," 
says  St.  Ambrose,  "there  is 
such  a  noise  of  talking  in  the 


Scotland,  the  Nonconformists 
of  England — "  psalm-singing  " 
has  almost  passed  into  a  fami- 
liar description  of  their  ritual. 
In  the  churches  of  Rome  and 
of  England  they  are  daily  re- 
cited, in  proportions  such  as 
far  exceed  the  reverence  shown 
to  any  other  portion  of  the 
Scriptures  (Stanle\). 

Verse  2.  St.  Matthew  quotes 
this  of  Christ's  parables. 

/  crse  34.  St.  Porphyry, 
Bishop  of  Gaza,  used  often  to 
point    out    this    verse    to    his 


church    that  you  cannot   hear    people,    to   remind   them    that 


what  is  said.  But  when  the 
Psalter  is  read,  all  are  silent." 
The  Psalms  were  sung  by  the 
ploughmen  of  Palestine  in  the 
time  of  Jerome  ;  by  the  boat- 
men of  Gaul  in  the  time  of 
Sidonius  Apollinaris.      In  the 


God's  service  is  purified  by  a 
persecution  even  to  the  death. 

Verse  71.  Bishop  Light- 
foot's  motto  for  St.  Columba's 
window  at  Bishop  Auckland 
is  Siistulit  eiivi  de  grcgibiis 
ovium. 


Latins. 
Greeks.- 


-Thursday  Matins. 
-Wednesday  morning. 


PSALM  LXXIX.     Bens,  venenuit. 

OGOD,  the  heathen  are  come  into  thine  inherit- 
ance :  thy  holy  temple  have  they  defiled,  and 
made  Jerusalem  an  heap  of  stones. 

2  The  dead  bodies  of  thy  servants  have  they  given 
to  be  meat  unto  the  fowls  of  the  air  :  and   the  tlesh  of 
thy  saints  unto  the  beasts  of  the  land. 
118 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  LXXIX  Day  i6 

3  Their  blood  have  they  shed  like  water  on  every 
side  of  Jerusalem  :  and  there  was  no  man  to  bury 
them. 

4  We  are  become  an  open  shame  to  our  enemies  :  a 
very  scorn  and  derision  unto  them  that  are  round 
about  us. 

5  Lord,  how  long  wilt  thou  be  angry  :  shall  thy 
jealousy  bum  like  tire  for  ever  '? 

6  Pour  out  thine  indignation  upon  the  heathen  that 
have  not  known  thee  :  and  upon  the  kingdoms  that 
have  not  called  upon  thy  Name. 

7  For  the^^  have  devoured  .Jacob  :  and  laid  waste 
his  dwelling-place. 

8  0  remember  not  our  old  sins,  but  have  mercy  upon 
us,  and  that  soon  :  for  we  are  come  to  great  misery. 

9  Help  us,  O  God  of  our  salvation,  for  the  glory  of 
thy  Name  :  0  deliver  us,  and  be  merciful  unto  our  sins, 
for  thy  Name's  sake. 

10  Wherefore  do  the  heathen  say  :  Where  is  now 
their  God  ? 

11  O  let  the  vengeance  of  thy  servants'  blood  that  is 
shed  :  be  openly  shewed  upon  the  heathen  in  our 
sight. 

12  O  let  the  sorrowful  sighmg  of  the  prisoners  come 
before  thee  :  according  to  the  greatness  of  thy  power, 
preserve  thou  those  that  are  appointed  to  die. 

13  And  for  the  blasphemy  wherewith  our  neigh- 
bours have  blasphemed  thee  :  reward  thou  them,  O 
Lord,  seven-fold  into  their  bosom. 

14  So  we,  that  are  thy  people,  and  sheep  of  thy 
pasture,  shall  give  thee  thanks  for  ever  :  and  will 
alway  be  shelving  forth  thy  praise  from  generation  to 
generation. 

This  psalm  was  formerly  "  muskatiers  drinking  and  to- 
used  in  the  Evensong  of  King  bacconing  freely"?  "Lord, 
Charles,  the  martyr,  the  proper  what  work  was  here,  what  clat- 
psalms  then  being  Ixxix. ,  xciv. ,  tering  of  glasses,  what  beating 
and  Ixxxv.  It  was  applied  as  down  of  Walls,  what  tearing 
freely  to  the  Puritan  excesses  up  of  Monuments,  what  pulling 
as  it  afterwards  was  to  the  pro-  down  of  Seates,  what  wrestling 
fanity  of  the  French  Revolu-  out  of  Irons  and  Brass  from  the 
tionists  ;  and  who  can  wonder,  Windowes  and  Graves  !  What 
when  pious  Bishop  Hall  saw  defacing  of  Armes,  what  de- 
Norwich  Cathedral  filled  with  molishingof  curiousstonework, 
119 


Day  1 6 


PSALM  LXXX 


Morning  Prayer 


that  had  not  any  representation 
in  the  World,  but  only  of  the 
cost  of  the  Founder  and  skill 
of  the  Mason,  what  loting 
and  piping  upon  the  destroyed 
Organ  pipe,  and  what  a  hideous 
triumph  on  the  Market-day  be- 
fore all  the  Countrey,  when,  in 
a  kind  of  Sacrilegious  and  pro- 
fane procession,  all  the  Organ- 
pipes,  Vestments,  both  Copes 
and  Surplices,  together  with 
the  Leaden  Crosse  which  had 
been  newly  sawne  down  from 
over  the  Green- Yard  Pulpit,  and 
the  Service  books  and  singing- 
books  that  could  be  had  were 
carried  to  the  fire  in  the  publick 
Market-place  ;  A  laud  wretch 
walking  before  the  Train,  in  his 
Cope  trailing  in  the  dirt,  with 
a  Service  book  in  his  hand, 
imitating  in  an  impious  scorne 
the  tune  and  usurping  the  words 


Soissons.  They  had  renounced 
their  rank,  and  for  the  love  of 
Christ  made  shoes  for  the  poor, 
and  were  slain  as  traitors  to 
the  Empire.  Their  bodies  were 
cast  into  the  sea,  "  but  the 
waves,  from  love  of  His  feet 
who  had  walked  upon  them, 
carried  the  holy  bodies  of  the 
brothers  to  Romney  Marsh, 
where  the  inhabitants,  weeping 
for  joy,  received  them  and  built 
a  church  to  receive  them "  at 
Lydd. 

Abbot  Hobbs,  the  last  Abbot 
of  Woburn  Abbey,  in  a  pathe 
tic  last  effort  to  inspire  his  dis- 
ordered community  with  the 
old  Faith  and  Order,  bade  each 
monk  to  recite  this  psalm  on 
Fridavs,  "  because  of  the  evil 
times  and  his  own  sorrow,  till 
certain  did  murmur  about  the 
saying  of  it,  and  so  it  was  left ;" 


of  the  Letany  ;  neer  the  publick    and    shortly   after    the   Abbey 


Crosse,  all  these  monuments 
of  Idolatry  must  be  sacrificed 
to  the  fire,  not  without  much 
Ostentation  of  a  zealous  joy." 

This  is  a  psalm  much  used 
by  our  people  during  the 
Indian  Mutiny.  It  was  read 
at  Lucknow  frequently  during 
the  siege  ;  at  Cawnpore  and 
in  Meerut  the  Roman  Catho- 
lics added  it  to  their  daily 
devotions. 

Among  the  other  saints  who 
made  use  of  it  were  the  noble 
brothers  SS.  Crispin  and  Cris- 


was  secularized  and  given  to 
the  Russells. 

Every  Friday  the  Jews  use 
this  great  lament  over  the  ruins 
of  Jerusalem. 

Verse  2.  This  is  the  motto 
which  Parsons,  the  Jesuit, 
chose  for  his  celebrated  book, 
De  persecutione  Anglicana, 
1581. 

I'erses  5  and  8.  These  are 
the  words  of  St.  Augustine's 
great  agony  under  the  fig-tree 
in  the  garden,  when  he  was 
tortured  by  the  great  struggle 
which  ended  in  his  conversion. 


pinian   at    the    martyrdom   at 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  Childermas  (e). 
Latins. — Thursday  Matins  [Saru/n,  All  Saints'). 
G/^(f/('5.— Wednesday  morning. 

PSALM  LXXX.     Qxii  regh  Israel 

HEAE,  O  thou  Shepherd  of  Israel,  thou  that  leadest 
Joseph  Uke  a  sheep  :  shew  thyself  also,  thou  that 
sittest  upon  the  cherubiiiis. 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM   LXXX  Day  id 

2  Before  Ephraim,  Benjamin,  and  Manasses  :  stir 
up  thy  strength  and  come  and  help  us. 

3  Turn  us  again,  O  (lod  :  shew  the  hght  of  thy 
countenance,  and  we  shall  be  whole. 

4  O  Lord  God  of  hosts  :  how  long  wilt  thou  be  angry 
with  thy  people  that  praycth  ? 

5  Thou  feedest  them  with  the  bread  of  tears  :  and 
givest  them  plenteousness  of  tears  to  drink. 

6  Thou  hast  made  us  a  very  strife  unto  our  neigh- 
bours :  and  our  enemies  laugh  us  to  scorn. 

7  Turn  us  again,  thou  God  of  hosts  :  shew  the  light 
of  thy  countenance,  and  we  shall  be  whole. 

8  Thou  hast  brought  a  vine  out  of  Egypt  :  thou  hast 
cast  out  the  heathen,  and  planted  it. 

9  Thou  madest  room  for  it  :  and  when  it  had  taken 
root  it  filled  the  land. 

10  The  hills  were  covered  with  the  shadow  of  it  : 
and  the  boughs  thereof  are  like  the  goodly  cedar- 
trees. 

1 1  She  stretched  out  her  branches  unto  the  sea  :  and 
her  boughs  unto  the  river. 

12  AVhy  hast  thou  then  broken  down  her  hedge  : 
that  all  they  that  go  by  pluck  off  her  grapes  '? 

13  The  wild  boar  out  of  the  wood  doth  root  it  up  : 
and  the  wild  beasts  of  the  field  devour  it. 

14  Turn  thee  again,  thou  God  of  hosts,  look  down 
from  heaven  :  behold,  and  visit  this  vine ; 

15  And  the  place  of  the  vineyard  that  thy  right 
hand  hath  planted  :  and  the  branch  that  thou  madest 
so  strong  for  thyself. 

16  It  is  burnt  with  fire,  and  cut  down  :  and  they 
shall  perish  at  the  rebuke  of  thy  countenance. 

1 7  Let  thy  hand  be  upon  the  man  of  thy  right  hand  : 
and  upon  the  son  of  man,  whom  thou  madest  so  strong 
for  thine  own  self. 

18  Amd  so  will  not  we  go  back  from  thee  :  0  let  us 
live,  and  we  shall  call  upon  thy  Name. 

19  Turn  us  again,  O  Lord  God  of  hosts  :  show  the 
Ught  of  thy  countenance,  and  we  shall  be  whole. 

Verse  3.      On   a   sundial    in  the  numberless  versifiers  of  the 

Abbeyfield  is  written,  "  Shew  me  Psalms   was   Walton's    friend, 

the  light  of  Thy  countenance. "  Dr.    Henry    King,    Bishop    of 

Verses  8,  9,  and  10.    .Among  Chichester,    who    appeared   at 


Day  1 6 


PSALM  LXXXr 


Morning  Prayer 


the  Savoy  Conference.  He  was 
once  disgusted  at  the  wretched 
expression  of  a  metrical  psalm 
"  which  quite  marred  the  pen- 
man's matter  and  his  own  de- 
votion" in  the  current  metrical 
version,  and,  thinking  George 
Sandys'  version  "too  eloquent 
for  the  vulgar  use,"  composed  a 
version  of  his  own,  and  dedi- 
cated to  Archbishop  Usher  in 
1651 : 

' '  Thou  didst  a  Vine  from 
.l^:gypt  bring, 

Thy  hand  which  planted 
made  it  spring, 

And  that  it  might  have  room 
to  spred. 

The  Heathen  were  discom- 
fited : 

"  Its  root  Thou  caused'st  fast 

to  stand, 
And  with  faire  branches  fill 

the  land  ; 
The  Hills  were  cover'd  with 

Hir  shade, 
Hir     boughes     like    goodly 

Cedar's  made." 

Here   is   Sandys'   version   of 
the  same  verses  (1635) : 


"  This  vine  from  Egypt  brought 
(the  foe 

Latins. — Matins  on  Thursday. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 


E.vpeld)  was  planted  by  thy 
hand, 
Thou    gav'st    it   roome  and 
strength  to  grow 
Until    her    branches   fill'd 
the  Land. 

"  The     Mountaines    tooke     a 
shade  from  these. 
Which    like    a    giove    of 
Cedars  stood. 
Extending  to  the  Tyrian  seas 
And  to  Euphrates  rowling 
Flood." 

Ferse  13.  Applied  by  Origen 
to  himself  in  the  bitter  lament 
he  made  for  his  apostasy  (vide 
Psalm  l). 

I'erseij^.  Archbishop  Thomas 
de  Rotherham  refounded  Lin- 
coln College,  Oxford,  owing  to 
a  stirring  sermon  preached 
from  this  text  by  Tristoppe, 
the  Rector  in  1478.  Bishop 
Flemmyng  had  Ibunded  it  in 
1426,  but  it  languished.  By 
the  licence  of  Edward  IV.  five 
new  fellowships  were  added. 
The  vines  in  the  college  are  in 
allusion  to  this. 

l^erse  19.  This  is  used  in  the 
Anglo-Saxon  vernacular  office 
of  Prime,  and  occurs  frequently 
in  a  detached  form  in  many 
services. 


PSALM  LXXXI.     ExuUate  Deo. 

SING  we  merrily  unto  God  our  strength  :  make  a 
cheerful  noise  unto  the  God  of  Jacob. 

2  Take  the  psalm,  bring  hither  the  tabret  :  the  merry 
harp  with  the  lute. 

3  Blow  up  the  trumpet  in  the  new-moon  :  even  in 
the  time  appointed,  and  upon  our  solenm  feast-day. 

4  For  this  was  made  a  statute  for  Israel  :  and  a  law 
of  the  God  of  Jacob. 


Evening  Pniyer  PSALMLXXXII  Day  i 

5  This  he  ordained  in  Joseph  for  a  testimony  :  when 
he  came  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  had  heard  a 
strange  hvnguage. 

6  I  eased  his  shoulder  from  the  burden  :  and  his 
hands  were  delivered  from  nniking  the  pots. 

7  Thou  calledst  upon  me  in  troubles,  and  I  delivered 
thee  :  and  heard  thee  what  time  as  the  storm  fell  upon 
thee. 

8  I  proved  thee  also  :  at  the  waters  of  strife. 

9  Hear,  O  my  people,  and  I  will  assure  thee,  O 
Israel  :  if  thou  wilt  hearken  unto  uae, 

10  There  shall  no  strange  god  be  in  thee  :  neither 
shalt  thou  worship  any  other  god. 

1 1  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  who  brought  thee  out  of 
the  land  of  Egvpt  :  open  thv  mouth  wide,  and  I  shall 
fill  it. 

12  But  my  people  would  not  hear  my  voice  :  and 
Israel  would  not  obey  me. 

13  So  I  gave  them  up  unto  then*  own  hearts'  lusts  : 
and  let  them  follow  their  own  imaginations. 

14  0  that  my  people  would  have  hearkened  unto  me  : 
for  if  Israel  had  walked  in  my  ways, 

I  5  I  should  soon  have  put  down  their  enemies  :  and 
turned  my  hand  against  their  adversaries. 

16  The  haters  of  the  Lord  should  have  been  found 
liars  :  but  their  time  should  have  endured  for  ever. 

17  He  should  have  fed  tliem  also  with  the  finest 
wheat-flour  :  and  with  honey  out  of  the  stony  rock 
should  I  have  satisfied  thee. 

To  carry  a  Psalter  seemed  a  wishes  to  dre~s  up  as  a  Be- 
iiecessity  to  the  religious  of  the  guine,  she  takes  the  coverchief 
Middle  Ages.  In  Chaucer's  of  thread,  "  Rut  she  forgate  not 
Romaunt  of  the  Rose,  when  hir  Sawter,"  which  was  quite 
"  Dame  Abstinence-Streyned  "     as  much  part  of  the  costume. 

Latins. — Friday  Matins. 

Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 


PSALM  LXXXII.     Deus  stetit. 

GOD  standeth  in  the  congregation  of  princes  :  he  is 
a  Judge  among  gods. 
2  How  long  will   ye  give  wrong  judgement  :  and 
accept  the  persons  of  the  ungodly  '? 


Day  i6  PSALM  LXXXTII  Evening  Prayer 

3  Defend  the  poor  and  fatherless  :  see  that  such  as 
are  in  need  and  necessity  have  riglit. 

4  Dehver  tlie  out-cast  and  poor  :  save  them  from  the 
hand  of  tlie  nngodl3^ 

5  They  will  not  be  learned  nor  understand,  but  walk 
on  still  in  darkness  :  all  the  foundations  of  the  earth 
are  out  of  course. 

6  I  have  said,  Ye  are  gods  :  and  ye  are  all  the 
children  of  the  most  Highest. 

7  But  ye  shall  die  like  men  :  and  fall  like  one  of  the 
princes. 

8  Arise,  O  God,  and  judge  thou  the  earth  :  for  thoii 
shalt  take  all  heathen  to  thine  inheritance. 

Verse  i.  This  is  the  thought  1621)  from  this  text,  and  by 
which  decided  Constantine  not  making  no  allusion  to  the 
to  act  as  umpire  between  con-  critical  state  of  public  affairs, 
tending  bishops  at  Nictea  ;  for  made  "  a  tacit  protest  against 
he  regarded  the  "gods"  as  thegrowingtendencyof Church- 
meaning  the  clergy.  This  use  men  to  engage  in  politics  and 
of  the  term,  of  course,  was  serve  in  secular  affairs." 
prominent  in  the  struggles  be-  Verse  6.  Our  Lord  quoted 
tween  Popes  and  Emperors  in  these  words  to  justify  His 
after-ages.  language   when    He    said,    "  1 

Bishop  Andrewes    preached  and  My  Father  are  one,"  after 

before     the    House    of    Lords  which  they  were  about  to  stone 

in  Westminster  Abbey  (Jan.  30,  Him,  in  Solomon's  Porch. 

Latins. — Friday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 

PSALM  LXXXIII.     Bern,  qnis  .wnili.^  ? 

HOLD  not  thy  tongue,  O  God,  keep  not  still  silence  : 
refrain  not  thyself,  O  God. 

2  For  lo,  thine  enemies  make  a  inurmuring  :  and 
they  that  hate  thee  have  lift  up  their  head. 

3  They  have  imagined  craftily  against  thy  people  : 
and  taken  counsel  against  thy  secret  ones. 

4  They  have  said,  Come,  and  let  us  root  them  out, 
that  they  be  no  more  a  people  :  and  that  the  name  of 
Israel  may  be  no  more  in  remembrance. 

5  For  they  have  cast  their  heads  together  with  one 
consent  :  and  are  confederate  against  thee ; 

6  The  tabernacles  of  the  Edomites,  and  the  Tsmael- 
ites  :  the  Moab'tes,  and  Hagarenes  ; 

124 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM   LXXXlll  /Ay  i6 

7  Gebal,  and  Amnion,  and  Amalek  :  the  Philistines, 
with  them  that  dwell  at  Tyre. 

8  Assur  also  is  joined  with  them  :  and  have  holpen 
the  children  of  Lot. 

9  But  do  thou  to  them  as  unto  the  Madianites  :  unto 
Sisera,  and  unto  Jabin  at  the  brook  of  Kison  ; 

10  AVho  perished  at  Endor  :  and  became  as  the  dung 
of  the  earth. 

1 1  ]Make  them  and  their  princes  like  Oreb  and  Zeb  : 
yea,  make  all  their  princes  like  as  Zeba  and  Salmana ; 

12  Who  say,  "  Let  us  take  to  ourselves  :  the  houses 
of  God  in  possession." 

13  0  my  God,  make  them  like  unto  a  wheel  :  and  as 
the  stubble  before  the  wind ; 

14  Like  as  the  lire  that  burnetii  up  the  wood  :  and 
as  the  flame  that  consumeth  the  mountains. 

I  5  Persecute  them  even  so  with  thy  tempest  :  and 
make  them  afraid  with  thy  storm. 

16  Make  their  faces  ashamed,  O  Lord  :  that  they 
may  seek  thy  Name. 

17  Let  them  be  confounded  and  vexed  ever  more 
and  more  :  let  them  be  put  to  shame,  and  perish. 

18  And  the}'  shall  know  that  thou,  whose  Name  is 
Jehovah  :  art  only  the  most  Highest  over  all  the 
earth. 

The  monks  at  Jarrow  were        may  seek  Thy  Name  arighr. 
chanting  this   psahn  while  St.         Let  them  confounded  be,  and 
Benedict  Biscop  died,  and  they  prove 

took  it  as  an    omen   that   the        from  trouble  never  free  ; 
powers  of  evil  could  not  prevail        Yea,  let  them  all  be  put  to 
against  his  parting  soul.  shame, 

James  I.  translated  the  Psalter         and  wholly  ruined  be. 
into  metre  rather  well.     Charles         That    men    may   know    that 
1.  published  his  "  dear  father's"  Thou,  whose  name 

work,  and  hoped  with  it  to  oust         Jehovah  is  alone, 
Sternhold,  but  in  vain.     Here         Art  the  most  high,  the  like  of 
is  his  version    of   the  close  of  whom 

this  psalm.     It  was  printed  at         o'er  all  the  earth  is  none." 
the  side  of  our  version  :  gj^^^p     Williams     declares 

"  So  with  Thy  tempest    them  that  the  royal  author  died  after 

pursue,  he  had  done  only  thirty  of  these 

and    with   Thy   storm    them  psalms ;    but  Charles's  Impri- 

fright  ;  matiir  gives   the   whole   book 

Their  faces  fill  with  shame,  to  his  fatlier. 

that  they 

125 


Day  \6  PSALM  LXXXIV  Evening  P raycr 

Litii>gicai  use. — Introit  for  Mass  on  IV  Sunday  after  Easter  (e). 
Latins. — Matins  on  Friday. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning. 

PSALM  LXXXIV.     Qaam  dlleda  ! 

OHOW  amiable  are  thy  dwellings  :  thou  Lord  of 
liosts  ! 

2  My  soul  hath  a  desire  and  longing  to  eiiter  into 
the  courts  of  the  Lord  :  my  heart  and  my  flesh  rejoice 
in  the  living  God. 

3  Yea,  the  sparrow  hath  found  her  an  house,  and 
the  swallow  a  nest  where  she  may  lay  her  A'oung  :  even 
thy  altars,  0  Lord  of  hosts,  my  King  and  my  God. 

4  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house  :  thej'  will 
be  alway  praising  thee. 

5  Blessed  is  the  man  whose  strength  is  in  thee  :  in 
whose  heart  are  thy  ways. 

6  Who  going  through  the  vale  of  misery  use  it  for 
a  well  :  and  the  pools  are  filled  with  water. 

7  They  will  go  from  strength  to  strength  :  and  unto 
the  God  of  gods  appeareth  every  one  of  them  in  Sion. 

8  0  Lord  God  of  hosts,  hear  my  prater  :  hearken, 
O  God  of  Jacob. 

9  Behold,  O  God  our  defender  :  and  look  upon  the 
face  of  thine  xVnointed. 

10  For  one  day  in  thy  courts  :  is  better  than  a 
thousand. 

1 1  I  had  rather  be  a  door-keeper  in  the  house  of  my 
God  :  than  to  dwell  in  the  tents  of  ungodliness. 

12  For  the  Lord  God  is  a  light  and  defence  :  the 
Lord  will  give  grace  and  worship,  and  no  good  thing 
shall  he  withhold  from  them  that  live  a  godly  life. 

13  O  Lord  God  of  hosts  :  blessed  is  the  man  that 
putteth  his  trust  in  thee. 

This  is  used  as  a  psalm  of  Dying    as   well    as    for    Holy 

preparation  for  the  Holy  Com-  Living.     When  the  aged  Paula 

munion    by   devout    people   of  drew  near  iier  end  she  repeated 

all   shades  of  belief.      It  is  re-  again    and  again  the   opening 

commended,   not  only  by  the  verses,    the    tenth    verse,    and 

Pope,  but   by  our   own   great  (Psalm  xxvi.  8)  "  Lord,  I  have 

divines  for  this  use,  and  even  loved    the    habitation    of  Thy 

by  devout  Nonconformists  and  house,    and    the    place   where 

Separatists.  Thine    honour   dwelleth."     St. 

It  is  a  prt-paration  for  Holy  Jerome  liad  inspired  her  with 

126 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM   LX XXV  Day  \6 

this  enthusiasm  for  the  Cinirch,  hair  falling  on  either  side  of  his 

and  what  it  represented.  open  countenance.     He  mostly 

This  psalm  was  a  favourite  went  barefoot." 
with    Rev.    F.     H.     Lyte,    the         Verse  7.  St.  Columba's motto, 

editor    of    Henry    Vaughan's  when  he  met  in  conference  with 

Silex    Scintillans,     and     the  Keniigern     (584    .\.D.),    near 

author  of   "Abide  with    nie."  where  Glasgow  stands. 
It   is   the  basis   of   his   hymn,         Verse  11.    St.  Thomas  Aqui- 

"  Pleasant     are      thy     courts  nas's  verse,  which  resolved  him 

above."      He   translated  many  to  join  the   Dominican   order, 

of  the  Psalms  into  verse.  He  was  but  thirteen  years  old 

Verse  2.    The  monk  Jocelyn  when  he  received  this  vocation, 

in    his    life   of    England's   St.  and   had    to    combat    all    the 

Augustine,    tells  us   how   pas-  wishes   of  his   family  to   obey 

sionate  was  the  saint's  longing  the  call. 

to  depart  and  be  with  Christ.  Verse  12.    "This,  as  it  was 

"  Who  will  give  me  wings  as  of  the  ancient  Psalmist's  faith,  let 

a  dove?     My  soul  hath  a  desire  it   likewise  be  ours.      It  is  the 

and  longing  to   enter  into  the  Alpha   and    Omega,   I  reckon, 

courts  of  the  Lord."     The  saint  of  all  possessions  that  belong 

was  "  a  tall,  straight  man,  kind  to  man  "  (Carlyle  to  his  brother, 

and  dignified  in  face,  with  his  June  27,  1824). 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  for  the  V  Sunday  after 

Easter. 
Latins. — Friday  Matins  ;  Dedication  of  a  church. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  morning  ;  Ninth  hour  ;  Burial  of  Priests, 

PSALM  LXXXV.     Benedixisti,  Domine.  . 

LOED,  thou  art  become  gracious  unto  th}^  land  :  thou 
hast  turned  away  the  captivity  of  Jacob. 

2  Thou  hast  forgiven  the  offence  of  tliy  people  :  and 
covered  all  their  sins. 

3  Thou  hast  taken  away  all  thy  displeasure  :  and 
turned  thyself  from  thy  wrathful  indignation. 

4  Turn  us  then,  0  God  our  Saviour  :  and  let  thine 
anger  cease  from  us. 

5  Wilt  thou  be  displeased  at  us  for  ever  :  and  wilt 
thou  stretch  out  thy  wrath  from  one  generation  to 
another  ? 

6  Wilt  thou  not  turn  again  and  quicken  us  :  that 
thy  people  may  rejoice  in  thee  '? 

7  Shew  us  thy  mercy,  O  God  :  and  grant  us  thy 
salvation. 

8  I  will  hearken  what  the  Lord  God  will  say  con- 
cerning me  :  for  he  shall  speak  peace  unto  liis  people, 
and  to  his  saints,  that  they  turn  not  again. 


Day  1 6 


PSALM  LXXXV 


Evening  Prayer 


9  For  his  salvation  is  nigh  them  that  fear  him  : 
that  glory  may  dwell  in  our  land. 

10  Mercy  and  truth  are  met  together  :  righteousness 
and  peace  have  kissed  each  other. 

1 1  Truth    shall    flourish    out   of    the   earth    :    and 
righteousness  hath  looked  down  from  heaven. 

12  Yea,  the  Lord  shall  shew  loving-kindness  :  and 
our  land  shall  give  her  increase. 

13  Kighteousness  shall  go  before  him  :  and  he  shall 
direct  his  going  in  the  way. 

Another  preparation   psalm 


with  Psalm  Ixxxiv.,  Ixxxvi.,  and 
cxxx. 

Verse  4.  This  was  in  the 
Anglo-Saxon  vernacular  Prime 
office,  said  at  six  o'clock. 

J'crseS.  This  is  the  thought 
which  grew  into  the  third  book 
of  St.  Thomas  a  Kempis's  De 
Imitafiorie  Christi,  on  Internal 
Consolation,  perhaps  the  best 
part  of  one  of  the  best  of  books. 
"  Thesmallold-fashionedbook, 
for  which  you  need  only  pay 
sixpence  on  a  bookstall,  works 
miracles  to  this  day,  turning 
bitter  waters  into  sweetness  ; 
while  expensive  sermons  and 
treatises,  newly  issued,  leave  all 
things  as  they  were  before.  It 
was  written  down  by  a  hand 
that  waited  for  the  heart's 
prompting  ;  it  is  the  chronicle 
of  a  solitary  hidden  anguish, 
trust  and  triumph — not  written 
on  velvet  cusiiions  to  teach 
endurance  to  those  who  are 
treading  with  bleeding  feet  on 
the  stones.  .'\nd  so  it  remains 
to  all  time  a  lasting  record  of 
himian  needs  and  human  con- 
solations ;  the  voice  of  a  brother 
who  years  ago  felt  and  suffered 
and  renounced— in  the  cloister, 
perhaps,  with  serge  gown  and 
tonsured  head,  with  much 
chanting  and  long  fasts,  and 
with   a   fashion  of  speech  dif- 


ferent from  ours — but  under  the 
same  silent  far-off  heavens,  and 
with  the  same  passionate  de- 
sires, the  same  strivings,  the 
same  failures,  the  same  weari- 
ness '  ((j.  Eliot). 

I'erse  10.  Tiiis  was  the  verse 
chosen  by  King  Henry  III. 
when  he  preached  to  the  Win- 
chester monks  upon  their  duties 
to  the  Crown.  He  succeeded  in 
his  object,  which  was  to  get 
-4£thelmar,  his  nominee,  elected 
abbot,  for,  as  the  historian 
remarks,  Sfric/o  siippliciit  ense 
potens !  It  was  a  favourite 
text  in  the  mouth  of  Bishop 
Andrewes,  and  one  much  used 
in  mediaeval  writers  for  the 
Incarnation.  Blake,  from  his 
instinctive  sympathy  with  the 
Middle  Ages,  painted  his  illus- 
tration of  the  text  "  in  two 
figures,  not  four.  Jesus  is  the 
representative  of  Mercy  and 
Righteousness  :  Truth  and 
Peace  are  embodied  in  a  beard- 
less youth.  The  two  are  seated, 
and  turn  round  to  kiss  and 
embrace,  their  arms  meeting 
over  a  Greek  cross.  Above,  at 
the  summit  of  some  steps,  is  an 
aged  man  with  a  book,  no 
doubt  representing  tlie  Deity. 
He  is  surrounded  by  a  glory  of 
angels."  An  interesting  work, 
yellow  being  the  predominant 
lint  I 


128 


Morning  Prayer         PSALM  LXXXVI  Day  17 

Liturgical  use. — Christmas  morning. 
Latins. — Friday  Matins  ;  Christmas  Day. 
t;«^/Jj.— Wednesday  morning  ;  Ninth  hour. 


PSALM  LXXXVI.     Indina,  Domine. 

BOW  down  thine  ear,  0  Lord,  and  hear  rue  :  for  I 
am  poor,  and  in  misery. 

2  Preserve  thou  my  soul,  for  I  am  holy  :  my  God, 
save  thy  servant  that  putteth  his  trust  in  thee. 

3  Be  merciful  unto  me,  O  God  :  for  I  will  call 
daily  upon  thee. 

4  Comfort  the  soul  of  thy  servant  :  for  unto  thee, 
O  Lord,  do  I  lift  up  mj-  soul. 

5  For  thou,  Lord,  art  good  and  gracious  :  and  of 
gi-eat  mercy  unto  all  them  that  call  upon  thee. 

6  Give  ear.  Lord,  unto  mj^  prayer  :  and  ponder  the 
voice  of  my  humble  desires. 

7  In  the  time  of  my  trouble  I  will  call  upon  thee  : 
for  thou  hear  est  me. 

8  Among  the  gods  there  is  none  like  unto  thee,  O 
Lord  :  there  is  not  one  that  can  do  as  thou  doest. 

9  All  nations  whom  tliou  hast  made  shall  come  and 
worship  thee,  0  Lord  :  and  shall  glorify  thj'  Name. 

10  For  thou  art  great,  and  doest  wondrous  things  : 
thou  art  God  alone. 

1 1  Teach  me  thy  way,  O  Lord,  and  I  will  walk  in 
thy  truth  :  O  knit  my  heart  unto  thee,  that  I  may 
fear  thy  Name. 

12  I  will  thank  thee,  O  Lord  my  God,  with  all  my 
heart  :  and  will  praise  thy  Name  for  evermore. 

13  For  great  is  thy  mercy  toward  me  :  and  thou  hast 
delivered  my  soul  from  the  nethermost  hell. 

14  0  God,  the  proud  are  risen  against  me  :  and  the 
congregations  of  naughty  men  have  sought  after  my 
soul,  and  have  not  set  thee  before  their  eyes. 

15  But  thou.  O  Lord  God,  art  full  of  compassion  and 
mercy  :  long-suffering,  plenteous  in  goodness  and  truth. 

16  0  tiu"n  thee  then  unto  me,  and  have  mercy  upon 
me  :  give  thy  strength  unto  thy  servant,  and  help  the 
son  of  thine  handmaid. 

129  >        •^ 


Day  17 


PSALM  LXXXVI  Murning  Prayer 


17  Shew  some  token  upon  me  for  good,  that  they 
who  hate  me  may  see  it,  and  be  ashamed  :  because 
thou,  Lord,  hast  holpen  me,  and  comforted  me. 

This  psalm  is  also  a  devout     Diocletian   was    beginning    to 
preparation  for  the  Holy  Com- 
munion (vide  Psalm  Ixxxiv. ). 

"Men  seemingly  the  most 
unlikely  to  express  enthusiasm 
;ibout  any  such  matter,"  says 
Trench,  speaking  of  the  Psalter, 
"have  been  forward  as  the 
forwardest  to  set  their  seal  to 
this  book,  have  left  their  con- 
fession that  it  was  the  voice  of 
their  innermost  heart,  that 
the    spirit    of    it   passed   into 


draw  men's  attention  to  the 
Church  by  persecuting  her,  a 
young  man,  Luxorius  of  Sar- 
dinia, ran  through  the  Psalter, 
out  of  curiosity,  wishing  to 
know  something  of  Christian 
literature.  He  got  as  far  as 
these  verses,  and  could  contain 
himself  no  longer,  but  rushed 
to  a  Christian  Church  and  en- 
tered himself  as  a  catechumen. 
On  his  way  back  he  heard  the 


their  spirits,  as  did  the  spirit  of    v;ords  Retribiie  servo  liio  vivam 


no  other  book  ;  that  it  found 
them  more  often  and  at  greater 
depths  of  their  being,  lifted 
them  to  higher  heights  than 
did  any  other  —  or,  as  one 
greatly  suffering  man,  telling  of 
the  solace  which  he  found  from 
this  Book  of  Psalms  in  the 
hours  of  a  long  imprisonment, 
has  expressed  it,  that  it  bore 
him  up  into  the  everlasting 
sunlight,  till  he  saw  the  world 
and  all  its  troubles  for  ever 
underneath  him." 

Verse  i.  The  Oxford  Move- 
ment supplied  a  metrical  ver- 
sion, of  a  brighter  faith,  and 
in  a  more  melodious  fashion 
than  the  doggerel  of  the  "  New 
Version."  Keble  undertook  it 
anonymously,  but  even  then 
unmistakably  : 

O  Lord,  bow  down  Tliine  ear 

and  hear. 

Poor  am  I ,  low  and  lone. 

Preserve  my  soul,  for  1  am 

dear 

And  holy,  all  Thine  own." 


and 


When 


et  custodiam  vias  ti/as  ( Ps.  cix. ), 
which  comforted  him  in  the 
faith,  so  that  he  boldly  en- 
dured martyrdom  with  the 
sword. 

I'erse  15.  This  is  evidently 
the  verse  to  which  Tennyson's 
poor  old  Rizpah  appeals, 
against  the  callous  visiting 
lady  : 

"Sin?    O  yes — we  are  sinners, 

I  know — let  all  that  be. 
And  read  me  a  Bible  verse  of 

the    Lord's    goodwill     to- 
wards men. 
'  Full     of    compassion     and 

mercy,    the    Lord,'  let  me 

hear  it  again, 
'  Full     of    compassion     and 

mercy  —  long      suffering.' 

Yes,  O  yes  ! 
For  the  lawyer  is  born  but  to 

murder,   the  Saviour  lives 

but  to  bless. 
He'll  never  jnit  on  the  black 

cap,  except  for  the  worst  of 

the  worst, 
And  the  first  may  be  last — 1 

have  heard  it  in  church  — 

and  the  last  may  be  first." 


Verses 

Lathis. — Friday  Matins  ;  lipipliany  ;  Visitation  of  the  Sick. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  evening  ;  Ninth  hour. 

130 


Morning  Prayer         PSALM   LXXXV^II  Day  17 


PSALM  LXXXVII.     Fundamenta  ejus. 

HER  foundations  are  upon  the  holy  hills  :  the  Lord 
lovcth   the   gates   of   Sion   naore    than    all   the 
dwellings  of  Jacob. 

2  Very  excellent  things  are  spoken  of  thee  :  thou 
cit}'  of  God. 

3  "  I  will  think  upon  Rahab  and  Babylon  :  with 
them  that  know  nie. 

4  "  Behold  ye  the  Philistines  also  :  and  they  of 
Tyre,  with  the  Morians  ;  lo,  there  was  he  born." 

5  And  of  Sion  it  shall  be  reported  that  he  was  born 
in  her  :  and  the  most  High  shall  stablish  her. 

6  The  Lord  shall  rehearse  it  when  he  writeth  up  the 
people  :  that  he  was  born  there. 

7  The  singers  also  and  trumpeters  shall  he  rehearse  : 
All  my  fresh  springs  shall  be  in  thee. 

The     favourite      psrtlm     of         l^ersc  2.   Gloriosa  dicta  sunt 

Thomas   Pierson,  the   Puritan,  de  te  Civifas  Dei.     This  is  the 

who  calls  it  "  The  Great  Char-  verse  which  gave   the   title  to 

ter  of  the  Church,"  and  "ex-  St.    Augustine's    great    work, 

cellent encouragements  against  "The  City  of  God,"  in   which 

afflictions."  he  draws  out  the  picture  of  the 

Verse  I.  The  motto  chosen  co-existence  of  a  conflict  be- 
by  Van  Mildert  for  Durham  tvveen  the  Divine  society — the 
University  in  1832  is  Funda-  Church  —  and  the  disordered 
menta  ejus  in  motitibiis  Sanctis,  political  world  of  the  Empire. 

Latins. — Friday  Matins  ;  Circumcision  ;  Epiphany  ;  Dedi- 
cation of  a  Church. 

Greeks. — Wednesday  evening. 


PSALM  LXXXVII r.     Domine  Dem. 

OLORD  God  of  my  salvation,  I  have  cried  day  and 
night  before  thee  :  0  let  my  prayer  enter  into  thy 
presence,  incline  thine  ear  unto  my  calling. 

2  For  my  soul  is  full  of  trouble  :  and  my  life  draweth 
nigh  unto  hell. 

3  I  am  counted  as  one  of  them  that  go  down  into 
the  pit  :  and  I  liave  been  even  as  a  man  that  hath  no 
strength. 

4  Free  among  the  dead,  like   unto   them  that  are 


Day\j  PSALM  LXXXVIII  Morning  Prayer 

wounded,  and  lie  in  the  grave  :  who  are  out  of  remem- 
brance, and  are  cut  away  from  thy  hand. 

5  Thou  hast  laid  me  in  the  lowest  pit  :  in  a  place  of 
darkness,  and  in  the  deep. 

6  Thine  indignation  lieth  hard  upon  me  :  and  thou 
hast  vexed  me  with  all  thy  storms. 

7  Thou  hast  put  away  mine  acquaintance  far  from 
me  :  and  made  me  to  be  abhorred  of  them. 

8  I  am  so  fast  in  prison  :  that  I  cannot  get  forth. 

9  My  sight  faileth  for  very  trouble  :  Lord,  I  have 
called  daily  upon  thee,  I  have  stretched  forth  my  hands 
unto  thee. 

10  Dost  thou  shew  wonders  among  the  dead  :  or 
shall  the  dead  rise  up  again,  and  praise  thee  ? 

1 1  Shall  thy  loving-kindness  be  shewed  in  the  grave  : 
or  thy  faithfuhiess  in  destruction  ? 

12  Shall  thy  wondrous  work  be  known  in  the  dark  : 
and  thy  righteousness  in  the  land  where  all  things  are 
forgotten  ? 

13  Unto  thee  have  I  cried,  O  Lord  :  and  early  shall 
my  prayer  come  before  thee. 

14  Lord,  why  abhorrest  thou  my  soul  :  and  hidest 
thou  thj'  face  from  me '? 

1 5  I  am  in  miserj',  and  like  unto  him  that  is  at  the 
point  to  die  :  even  from  my  youth  up  thy  terrors  have 
I  suffered  with  a  troubled  mind. 

1 6  Thy  wrathful  displeasure  goeth  over  me  :  and  the 
fear  of  thee  hath  undone  me. 

1 7  They  came  round  about  me  daily  like  water  :  and 
compassed  me  together  on  everj'  side. 

18  My  lovers  and  friends  hast  thou  put  away  from 
me  :  and  hid  mine  acquaintance  out  of  my  sight. 

Bishop  Hooper  (the  austere  ingof  our  Lord's  :  "The  nearer 

Puritan  Bishop  of  Gloucester,  to  me,  the  nearer  the  fire." 

who    was     burnt     before     his  V^erse  11.  The  dirge  of  the 

people,  beating  upon  his  bre;\st  "Solitary"    in    Wordsworth's 

till   his  hand   fell   off),  reconi-  "Excursion," 

mended  his  wife  to  study  this  ''.And  now  distinctly  could  I 

psalm  in  her  misery.     He  sug-  recognise 

gested  also   Psalms  vi.,    xxii..  These  words  :  'Shall  in  the 

XXX.,  .xxxi.,  xxxviii.,  and  Ixix.  grave  ihy  love  fie  hninvn, 

Verse  8.    In    an   early  com-  In  death  thy  faithfulness  f  " 

ment  on  this  verse,  written  by  P'crsei^,.  This  was  used  in  the 

Didymus,  is  a  traditional  say-  Anglo-Saxon  version  of  Prime. 

Ii2 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  LXXXIX  Day  \j 

Liturgical  use.  — QiooA  Friday;  Introit  to  Easter  Eve  Mass  (e). 
Latins. — Friday    Matins;    Easter    Eve;     Dedication    of    a 
Church. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  evening  ;  Dawn. 


PSALM  LXXXIX.     Misericordias  Domini. 

MY  sonpf  shall  be  ahvay  of  the  lovmg-kindness  of 
the  Lord  :  with  my  mouth  will  I  ever  be  shew- 
ing thy  truth  from  one  generation  to  another. 

2  For  I  have  said,  "  Mercy  shall  be  set  up  for  ever  : 
thy  truth  shalt  thou  stablish  in  the  heavens. 

3  "  I  have  made  a  covenant  with  my  chosen  :  I 
have  sworn  unto  David  my  servant ; 

4  "  Thy  seed  will  I  stablish  for  ever  :  and  set  up 
thy  throne  from  one  generation  to  another." 

5  0  Lord,  the  very  heavens  shall  praise  thy  won- 
drous works  :  and  thy  truth  in  the  congregation  of  the 
saints. 

6  For  who  is  he  among  the  clouds  :  that  shall  be 
compared  unto  the  Lord  ? 

7  And  what  is  he  among  the  gods  :  that  shall  be  like 
unto  the  Lord '? 

8  God  is  very  greatly  to  be  feared  in  the  council  of 
the  saints  :  and  to  be  had  in  reverence  of  all  them  that 
are  round  about  him. 

9  O  Lord  God  of  hosts,  who  is  like  unto  thee  ;  thy 
truth,  most  mighty  Lord,  is  on  every  side. 

10  Thou  rulest  the  raging  of  the  sea  :  thou  stillest 
the  waves  thereof  when  they  arise. 

1 1  Thou  hast  subdued  Egypt,  and  destroyed  it  : 
thou  hast  scattered  thine  enemies  abroad  with  thy 
mighty  arm. 

12  The  heavens  are  thine,  the  earth  also  is  thine  : 
thou  hast  laid  the  foundation  of  the  round  world,  and 
all  that  therein  is. 

13  Thou  hast  made  the  north  and  the  south  :  Tabor 
and  Hermon  shall  rejoice  in  thy  Name. 

14  Thou  hast  a  miglity  arm  :  strong  is  thy  hand, 
and  high  is  thy  right  hand. 

1 5  Righteousness  and  equity  are  the  habitation  of 
thy  seat  :  mercy  and  truth  shall  go  before  thy  face. 

^33 


Day\7  PSALM  LXXXIX  Evening  Prayer 

i6  Blessed  is  the  people,  O  Lord,  that  can  rejoice 
in  thee  :  they  shall  walk  in  the  light  of  thy  coun- 
tenance. 

17  Their  delight  shall  be  daily  in  thy  Name  :  and  in 
thy  righteousness  shall  they  make  their  boast. 

18  For  thou  art  the  glory  of  their  strength  :  and  in 
thy  loving-kindness  thou  shalt  lift  up  our  horns. 

19  For  the  Lord  is  our  defence  :  the  H0I3'  One  of 
Israel  is  our  King. 

20  Thou  spakest  sometime  in  visions  unto  thy  saints, 
and  saidst :  "  I  have  laid  help  upon  one  that  is  mighty ; 
I  have  exalted  one  chosen  out  of  the  people. 

21  "I  have  found  David  my  servant  :  with  my  holy 
oil  have  I  anointed  him. 

22  "  My  hand  shall  hold  him  fast  :  and  my  arm 
shall  strengthen  him. 

23  "  The  enemy  shall  not  be  able  to  do  him  violence  : 
the  son  of  wickedness  shall  not  hurt  him. 

24  "  I  will  smite  down  his  foes  before  his  face  :  and 
plague  them  that  hate  him. 

25  "  My  truth  also  and  my  mercy  shall  be  with 
him  :  and  in  my  Name  shall  his  horn  be  exalted. 

26  "  I  will  set  his  dominion  also  in  the  sea  :  and  his 
right  hand  in  the  floods. 

27  "  He  shall  call  me,  Thou  art  my  father  :  mj'  God, 
and  my  strong  salvation. 

28  "  And  I  will  make  him  my  first-born  :  higher 
than  the  kings  of  the  earth. 

29  "  My  mercy  will  I  keep  for  him  for  evermore  : 
and  my  covenant  shall  stand  fast  with  him. 

30  "  His  seed  also  will  I  make  to  endure  for  ever  : 
and  his  throne  as  the  days  of  heaven. 

31  "  But  if  his  children  forsake  my  law  :  and  walk 
not  in  my  judgements  ; 

32  "If  they  break  my  statutes,  and  keep  not  mv 
commandments  :  I  will  visit  their  offences  with  the 
rod,  and  their  sin  with  scourges. 

33  "  Nevertheless,  my  loving-kindness  will  I  not 
utterly  take  from  him  :  nor  suffer  my  truth  to  fail. 

34  "  My  covenant  will  I  not  break,  nor  alter  the 
thing  that  is  gone  out  of  my  lips  :  I  have  sworn  once 
by  my  holiness,  that  I  will  not  fail  David. 

•34 


Rveniiig Prayer  FSALM  LXXXIX  Day  ij 

35  "  His  seed  shall  endure  for  ever  :  and  his  seat  is 
like  as  the  sun  before  nie. 

36  "  He  shall  stand  fast  for  evermore  as  the  moon  : 
and  as  the  faithful  witness  in  heaven." 

■^'j  But  thou  hast  abhorred  and  forsaken  thine 
Anointed  :  and  art  displeased  at  him. 

38  Thou  hast  broken  the  covenant  of  thy  servant : 
and  cast  his  crown  to  the  ground. 

39  Thou  hast  overthrown  all  his  hedges  :  and  broken 
down  his  strong  holds. 

40  All  they  that  go  by  spoil  him  :  and  he  is  become 
a  reproach  to  his  neighbours. 

41  Tliou  hast  set  up  the  right  hand  of  his  enemies  : 
and  made  all  his  adversaries  to  rejoice. 

42  Thou  hast  taken  away  the  edge  of  his  sword  :  and 
givest  him  not  victory  in  the  battle. 

43  Thou  hast  put  out  his  glory  :  and  cast  his  throne 
down  to  the  ground. 

44  The  daj's  of  his  youth  hast  thou  shortened  :  and 
covered  him  with  dishonour. 

45  Lord,  how  long  wilt  thou  hide  thyself,  for  ever  : 
and  shall  thy  wrath  burn  like  fire  "? 

46  O  remember  how  short  my  time  is  :  wherefore 
hast  thou  made  all  men  for  nought "? 

47  "What  man  is  he  that  liveth,  and  shall  not  sec 
death  :  and  shall  he  deliver  his  soul  from  the  hand  of 
hell  ? 

48  Lord,  where  are  thy  old  loving-kindnesses  :  which 
thou  swarest  unto  David  in  thy  truth  ? 

49  Kemember,  Lord,  the  rebuke  that  thy  servants 
have  :  and  how  I  do  bear  in  my  bosom  the  rebukes  of 
many  people ; 

50  AVherewith  thine  enemies  have  blasphemed  thee, 
and  slandered  the  footsteps  of  thine  Anointed  :  Praised 
be  the  Lord  for  evermore.     Amen,  and  Amen. 

St.  Athanasius  (in  the  reign  to  slay  their  great  opponent 
of  Constantius)  was  about  to  in  a  trap.  The  saint  was 
preach  at  a  church  near  Con-  hardly  dissuaded  from  preach- 
stantinople  one  day,  when  a  ing,  but  bade  the  deacon  strike 
cry  was  raised  by  the  crowded  up  this  psalm- — one  much  used 
congregation  that  the  Arians  by  the  Catholics  in  this  con- 
had  surrounded  the  building  troversy — and  while  it  was 
with    500  soldiers,   and   meant  being  sung  he  escaped  as  by  a 


Day  i8  PSALM  XC  Morning  Prayer 

miracle,    passing    through   the  short   my   time    is" — e.g.,   St. 

soldiers  without  recognition.  Patrick's,  Isle  of  Man. 

Abraham,    in    the    spirit    of  Verse  47.    Is    not    this    the 

prophecy,  the  Talmudists  say,  verse       which      Shakespeare's 

wrote  this  psalm.  Justice   Shallow   has    in   mind 

Verse  46.    A  sundial  motto,  when   he   assures  Silence   that 

and  one  often  engraved  on  old  "  death,  as  the  Psalmist  saith, 

clocks,  is,   "O  remember  how  is  certain  to  all  "  ? 

Liturgical  nse. — Christmas  evening. 
Latins. — Friday  Matins  ;  Christmas. 
Greeks. — Wednesday  evening. 


PSALM  XC.     Domine,  refugiiLin. 

IORD,  thou  hast  been  our  refuge  :  from  one  gene- 
J     ration  to  another. 

2  Before  the  mountams  were  brought  forth,  or  ever 
the  earth  and  the  world  were  made  :  thou  art  God  from 
everlasting,  and  world  without  end. 

3  Thou  turnest  men  to  desti'uction  :  again  thou 
sayest,  Come  again,  ye  children  of  men. 

4  For  a  thousand  years  in  thy  sight  are  but  as  yester- 
day :  seeing  that  is  past  as  a  watch  in  the  night. 

5  As  soon  as  thou  scatterest  them  they  are  even  as 
a  sleep  :  and  fade  awaj-  suddenly  like  the  grass. 

6  In  the  morning  it  is  green,  and  groweth  up  :  but 
in  the  evening  it  is  cut  down,  dried  up,  and  withered. 

7  For  we  consume  away  in  thy  displeasure  :  and  are 
afraid  at  thy  wrathful  indignation. 

8  Thou  hast  set  our  misdeeds  before  thee  :  and  our 
secret  sins  in  the  light  of  thy  countenance. 

9  For  when  thou  art  angry  all  oiu-  days  are  gone  : 
we  bring  our  years  to  an  end,  as  it  were  a  tale  that  is 
told. 

10  The  days  of  our  age  are  threescore  years  and  ten  ; 
and  though  men  be  so  strong  that  tliey  come  to  four- 
score years  :  yet  is  their  strength  then  but  labour  and 
sorrow  ;  so  soon  passeth  it  away,  and  we  are  gone. 

1 1  But  who  regardeth  the  power  of  thy  wrath  :  for 
even  thereafter  as  a  man  feareth,  so  is  thy  displeasure. 

12  So  teach  us  to  number  our  days  :  that  we  may 
apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom. 

13  Turn  thee  again,  O  Lord,  at  the  last  :  and  be 
gracious  unto  thy  servants. 

136 


A  fornix  a  Pravcr 


PSALM  XC 


Day  1 8 


14  O  satisfy  us  with  thy  mercy,  and  that  soon  :  so 
shall  we  rejoice  and  be  glad  all  the  days  of  our  life. 

15  Comfort  us  again  now  after  the  time  that  thou 
hast  plagued  us  :  and  for  the  years  wherein  we  have 
suffered  adversity. 

16  Show  thy  servants  thj'  work  :  and  their  children 
thy  glory. 

17  And  the  glorious  Majesty  of  the  Lord  our  God  be 
upon  us  :  prosper  thou  tlie  work  of  our  hands  upon  us, 
O  prosper  thou  our  handy-work. 


This  psalm  has  a  double 
interest  for  English  folk,  apart 
from  all  its  merits.  It  has 
been  sung  or  read  since  1662 
over  the  graves  of  our  fathers, 
and  it  will  be  sung  or  read  over 
our  own.  But  before  Edward 
VI. 's  time  our  funeral  psalms 
were  cxvi. ,  cxxxix. ,  and  cxlvi.  ; 
and  with  the  Celebration,  I'salm 
xlii.  The  reason  all  these 
burial  psalms  were  abolished 
by  the  Reformers  of  1552  will 
be  evident  to  anyone  who 
glances  at  them.  In  this  con- 
nection these  taught  Mass  for 
the  dead  and  Purgatory.  But 
they  gave  us  none  instead. 
Bishop  Cosin  supplied  this 
"song  of  Moses"  and  xxxix.  ; 
the  former  to  propitiate  the 
Puritans  ;  the  latter  because 
Laud  used  it  for  burials. 

Dr.  Watts's  most  successful 
hymn,  "O  God,  our  Help  in 
ages  past,"  is  a  rhymed  version 
of  this  psalm,  and  one  much 
delighted  in  by  John  Wesley. 
Contrast  his  version  with  the 
weaker  one  of  the  far  greater 
poet  Burns,  who  also  delighted 
in  this  psalm. 

"Thou  givest  the  word,   Thy 

creature  man 

Is  to  existence  brought : 

Again  thou  say'st,  '  Ye  sons 

of  men. 

Return  ye  into  nought.' 


Thou    layest    them   with    alt 
their  cares 
In  everlasting  sleep. 
As  with  a   flood   thou   tak'st 
them  off 
With  overwhelming  sweep." 

Charles  V. ,  the  most  power- 
ful emperor  since  Charlemagne's 
time,  who  left  his  throne  for 
tiie  cloister  at  St.  Juste,  used 
to  declare  that  he  preferred 
Domine,  refiii;iinii  /actus  es 
nobis  to  all  other  psalms. 

J.  H.  Newman's  Gerontius 
hears  the  souls  in  Purgatory 
singing  this  psalm. 

I'erse  10.  "So  soon  passeth 
it  away" — a  common  sundial 
motto— St.  Matins',  Looe  ;  St. 
Matthias',  Liskeard  ;  Bidden- 
den,  etc. 

"  Yet  is  their  strength  then 
but  labour  and  sorrow."  Mr. 
Ruskin  thinks  that  in  com- 
mentary upon  these  words 
Diirer  painted  his  Melancholia, 
and  thus,  "Yes,"  he  replies  to 
them,  "  but  labour  and  sorrow 
are  their  strength." 

rerse  12.  This  was  the  text 
which  Dr.  Rudd  chose  to  preach 
upon  before  C^)ueen  Elizabeth, 
when  he  dwelt  upon  the  infirm- 
ities of  old  age,  and  applied 
his  words  to  the  aged  queen. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  "he 
fell  out  of  favour "  with  her 
Majesty,   who   had  before  re- 


^2>7 


Day  i8  PSALM  XCI  Morning  Prayer 

solved  to  make  him  an  arch-  homes  at  six  in  the  morning, 

bishop.  before  the  people  went  out  to 

Verses  i6  dnd  17  were  in  the  tlie  labour  of  the  day  ;  and  not 

early  Prime  office  in  the  Enghsh  only   from    the    clergy-houses, 

tongue  ;    that   is   to   say,   they  but  from  the  homes  of  devout 

rose     to     God     from    Enghsh  lay-folk  also. 

Liturf^ical  use.  — Burial  Service. 

Latins. — Thursday  at  Lauds. 

Greeks. — Wednesday  night  ;  First  hour. 


PSALM  XCI.     Qai  habitat. 

WHOSO  dwelleth  under  the  defence  of  the  most 
High  :  shall  abide  under   the  shadow  of  the 
Almighty. 

2  I  will  say  unto  the  Lord,  "  Thou  art  my  hope,  and 
my  strong  hold  "  :  my  God,  in  him  will  I  trust. 

3  For  he  shall  deliver  thee  from  the  snare  of  the 
hunter  :  and  from  the  noisome  pestilence. 

4  He  shall  defend  thee  under  his  wings,  and  thou 
shalt  be  safe  under  his  feathers  :  his  faithfulness  and 
truth  shall  be  thy  shield  and  buckler. 

5  "  Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  any  terror  by  night  : 
nor  for  the  arrow  that  theth  by  day  ; 

6  "  For  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  darkness  :  nor 
for  the  sickness  that  destroyeth  in  the  noon-day. 

7  "  A  thousand  shall  fall  beside  thee,  and  ten  thousand 
at  thy  right  hand  :  but  it  shall  not  come  nigh  thee. 

8  "Yea,  with  thine  eyes  shalt  thou  behold  :  and  see 
the  reward  of  the  ungodly." 

9  For  thou.  Lord,  art  my  hope  :  thou  hast  set  thine 
house  of  defence  very  high. 

10  "  There  shall  no  evil  happen  unto  thee  :  neither 
shall  any  plague  come  nigh  thy  dwelling. 

1 1  "  For  he  shall  give  his  angels  charge  over  thee  : 
to  keep  thee  in  all  thy  w-ays. 

12  "They  shall  bear  thee  in  their  hands  :  that  thou 
hurt  not  thy  foot  against  a  stone. 

13  "  Tliou  shalt  go  upon  the  lion  and  adder  :  the  young 
lion  and  the  dragon  shalt  thou  tread  under  thy  feet. 

14  "  Because  he  hath  set  his  love  upon  me,  therefore 
will  I  deliver  him  :  I  will  set  him  up,  because  he  hath 
known  my  Name. 

13S 


Morning  Prayer 


PSALM  XCI 


Day  1 8 


15  "  He  sliall  call  upon  me,  and  I  will  hear  him  :  yea, 
I  am  with  hiui  in  trouble  ;  I  will  deliver  him,  and 
bring  him  to  honour. 

16  "  With  long  life  will  I  satisfy  him  :  and  shew  him 
my  salvation." 


"My  excellent  holy  mother 
in  law,  Mary,  widow  to  my 
dear  father,"  says  Richard 
Baxter,  ' '  was  one  of  the  most 
humble,  mortified  holy  persons 
that  ever  I  knew,  and  lived  in 
longing  to  be  with  Christ  till 
she  was  a  hundred  years  old 
(wanting  three  or  four),  in  full 
understanding,  and  at  last  re- 
joicing in  the  frequent  hearing 
and  repeating  of  Psalm  xci." 

Verse  7.  This  was  the  verse 
by  which  the  Bishop  of  Mar- 
seilles encouraged  his  clergy  to 
stick  to  their  duty  during  the 
great  plague  of  1720. 

Verse  11.  The  devil  can 
quote  this  Scripture  for  Iiis 
purpose.  But  how  much  of 
Christian  teaching  about  the 
angels  begins  here  !  Spenser 
thus  writes : 

"  How  oft  do  they  their  silver 

bowers  leave, 
To  come  to  succour  us,  that 

succour  want  ! 
How  oft  do  they  with  golden 

pinions  cleave 
The  flitting  skies,  like  flying 

pursuivant. 
Against   fowle   fiends  to   aid 

us  militant  ! 
They  for  us  fight,  they  watch 

and  duly  ward, 

Latins. 


And  their  bright  squadrons 
round  about  us  plant  ; 

And  all  for  love  and  nothing 
for  reward  : 

Oh  !  why  should  heav'nly  God 
to  man  have  such  regard?" 

Similarly  Milton  and  others, 
and  not  least  that  ancient 
English  prayer  still  taught  by 
simple  folk  to  their  children 
which  quiets  them  by  the 
promise  of  "  four  angels  round 
my  bed  !" 

I'crse  13.  In  the  sixth  room 
of  the  National  Gallery  is  a 
picture  of  St.  Michael  and  the 
dragon,  by  Fra  Carnovale, 
which  gives  the  Christian  com- 
ment upon  this  verse.  The 
spirit  of  the  Church  Militant  is 
treading  the  dragon  of  sensu- 
ality and  injustice  under  his 
feet'. 

In  Salisbury  Cathedral  a 
"  boy-bishop,"  who  died  during 
his  brief  term  of  office,  is  curved 
trampling  upon  a  monster  in 
allusion  to  the  words  Concitl- 
cabis  leonein  et  draconevi.  The 
boy -bishop  reigned  from  St. 
Nicholas  Day  till  Childermas, 
and  preached  in  the  catliedral 
of  his  see.  Dean  Colet  ordered 
all  his  scholars  to  attend  this 
sermon  without  fail. 


Daily  at  Compline  [i.e.,  9  p.m.);  Visitation  of  the 
Sick  [Sarum  for  All  Saints')  ;  Dedication  of  a  Church. 
Greeks. — Last    psalm  for  Wednesday  evening  ;    Sixth   hour  ; 
Late  Evensong  in  Lent ;  Burial  of  laymen,  monks,  and 
infants. 


•39 


Day  i8  PSALM  XCII  Morning  Prayer 

PSALM  XCII.     Bonum  est  confiteri. 

IT  is  a  good  thing  to  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  :  and 
to  sing  praises  unto  thy  Name,  O  most  Highest ; 

2  To  tell  of  thy  loving-kmdness  early  in  the  morn- 
ing :  and  of  thy  truth  in  the  night-season  ; 

3  Upon  an  instrument  of  ten  strings,  and  upon  the 
lute  :  upon  a  loud  instrument,  and  upon  the  harp. 

4  For  thou,  Lord,  hast  made  me  glad  through  thy 
works  :  and  I  will  rejoice  in  giving  praise  for  the  opera- 
tions of  thy  hands. 

5  O  Lord,  how  glorious  are  thy  works  :  thy  thoughts 
are  very  deep. 

6  An  iinwise  man  doth  not  well  consider  this  :  and 
a  fool  doth  not  understand  it. 

7  When  the  ungodly  are  green  as  the  grass,  and  when 
all  the  workers  of  wickedness  do  flourish  :  then  shall 
they  be  destroj'ed  for  ever ;  but  thou,  Lord,  art  the 
most  Highest  for  evermore. 

8  For  lo,  thine  enemies,  O  Lord,  lo,  thine  enemies 
shall  perish  :  and  all  the  workers  of  wickedness  shall 
be  destroyed. 

9  But  mine  horn  shall  be  exalted  like  the  horn  of  an 
unicorn  :  for  I  am  anointed  with  fresh  oil. 

10  Mine  eye  also  shall  see  his  lust  of  mine  enemies  : 
and  mine  ear  shall  hear  his  desire  of  the  wicked  that 
arise  up  against  me. 

1 1  The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  a  palm-tree  :  and 
shall  spread  abroad  like  a  cedar  in  Libanus. 

12  Such  as  are  planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  : 
shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  the  house  of  our  God. 

13  They  also  shall  bring  forth  more  fruit  in  their 
age  :  and  shall  be  fat  and  well-liking. 

14  That  they  may  shew  how  true  the  Lord  my 
strength  is  :  and  that  there  is  no  unrighteousness  in  hun. 

Dr.    George   Matheson   uses  the   morning  of  the  world  by 

this   psalm   (with   Pss.    ii.   and  Adam,  the  father  of  mankind. 
Ixxii.)  to  show  that  the  principle         Ferse     i.      Sir    C^hristopher 

of    survival    is    as    completely  Hatton's  motto  for  his  Psalter  ; 

taught  by  natural    religion   as  viJe  Ps.  cviii. 
it  is  by  modern  science.  I'erse^.   Dante  hears  Matilda 

The  Talniudic  tradition  says  his  guide  singing  in  the  terres- 

that  this  psalm  was  written  in  trial  paradise  the  psalm  Df/e- 

140 


Evening  Prayer 


PSALM  XCllI 


Day  18 


casti  {tnc  Domine  in  factura 
tud,  et  in  opcribus  manuum 
inarum  exultabo],  vide  Purg. , 
xxviii.  80. 

This  Matilda,  supposed  to 
be  the  great  counte-s  of  the 
eleventh  century,  "notable 
equally  for  her  ceaseless  ac- 
tivity, her  brilliant  political 
genius,  her  perfect  piety,  and 
her  deep  reverence  for  the  See 
of  Rome,"  is  standing  on  tiie 
other  side  of  Lethe,  passing 
the  flowers  through  her  hands. 


She  represents  the  noblest 
form  of  "the  active  life  which 
forms  the  felicity  of  earth,  and 
the  spirit  of  Beatrice  the  con- 
templative life,  which  forms  the 
felicity  of  Heaven." 

Verse  5.  Our  histoii.m, 
Matthew  Paris,  always  quotes 
this  verse  when  he  relates 
some  miracle  of  the  saints  (of 
Robert  of  Lincoln,  Thomas  of 
Hertford,  etc.).  Indeed,  it 
sums  up  the  mediaeval  view  of 
God's  working  in  the  world. 


Latins. — Saturday  Lauds. 

Greeks. — Thursday  morning;  Mesorioa  of  first  hour. 


PSALM  XCIII.     Dominus  regnacit. 

THE  Lord  is  lung,  and  hath  put  on  glorious  apparel : 
the  Lord  hath  put  on   his   apparel,  and  girded 
himself  with  strength. 

2  He  hath  made  the  round  world  so  sure  :  that  it 
cannot  be  moved. 

3  Ever  since  the  world  began  hath  thy  seat  been 
prepared  :  thou  art  from  everlasting. 

4  The  Hoods  are  risen,  O  Lord,  the  floods  have  lift 
up  their  voice  :  the  floods  lift  up  their  waves. 

5  The  waves  of  the  sea  are  mighty,  and  rage  hor- 
ribly :  but  yet  the  Lord,  who  dwelleth  on  high,  is 
mightier. 

6  Thy  testimonies,  O  Lord,  are  very  sure  :  holiness 
becometh  thine  house  for  ever. 


Edward  Irving  wrote  of  the 
Psalter  in  a  way  that  seems  an 
echo  of  a  time  when  the  world 
was  yet  undrowned  by  floods 
of  watery  criticism.  "  These 
Psalms,"  he  says,  "are  to  a 
Christian  what  the  love  of 
parents  and  the  sweet  affec- 
tions of  home,  and  the  cling- 
ing memories  of  infant  scenes 
and  the  generous  love  of 
country,  are  to  men  of  every 
rank   and    order  and   employ- 


ment,   of    every   kindred    and 
tongue  and  nation." 

Shakespeare  has  the  valiant 
spirit  of  the  psalm,  if  not  a 
literal  echo,  in  Queen  Mar- 
garet's speech  : 

"  'We  will  not  from  the  helm, 

to  sit  and  weep  ; 
But  keep  our  course,  though 

the  rough  wind  say  no 
From  shelves  and  rocks  that 

threaten  us  with  wrack." 


141 


Day  \?,  PSALM  XCIV  Evening  Prayer 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  on  I.  Sunday  after  the 

Ascension. 
Latins. — Sunday  at  Lauds. 
■  Greeks. — Thursday  morning  ;  Mesorion  of  first  hour. 

PSALM  XCIV.     Deu.^  uUionum. 

OLOED  God,  to  whom  vengeance  belongetli  :  thou 
God,  to  whom  vengeance  belongeth,  shew  thyself. 

2  Arise,  thou  Judge  of  the  world  :  and  reward  the 
proud  after  their  deserving. 

3  Lord,  how  long  shall  the  ungodly  :  how  long  shall 
the  ungodly  triumph  ? 

4  How  long  shall  all  wicked  doers  speak  so  disdain- 
fully :  and  make  such  proud  boastings  '? 

5  The}^  smite  down  thy  people,  O  Lord  :  and  trouble 
thine  heritage. 

6  They  murder  the  widow,  and  the  stranger  :  and 
put  the  fatherless  to  death. 

7  And  yet  they  say,  "  Tush,  the  Lord  shall  not  see  : 
neither  shall  the  God  of  Jacob  regard  it." 

8  Take  heed,  ye  unwise  among  the  people  :  O  ye 
fools,  when  will  ye  understand  ? 

9  He  that  planted  the  ear,  shall  he  not  hear  :  or  he 
that  made  the  eye,  shall  he  not  see  ? 

10  Or  he  that  nurture th  the  heathen  :  it  is  he  that 
teacheth  man  knowledge,  shall  not  he  punish  ? 

11  The  Lord  knoweth  the  thoughts  of  man  :  that 
they  are  but  vain. 

12  Blessed  is  the  man  whom  thou  chastenest,   O 
Lord  :  and  teachest  him  in  thy  law  ; 

13  That  thou  mayest  give  him  patience  in  time  of 
adversity  :  until  the  pit  be  digged  up  for  the  ungodly. 

14  For  the  Lord  will  not  fail  his  people  :  neither  will 
he  forsake  his  inheritance  ; 

15  Until  righteousness  turn  again  unto  judgement  : 
all  such  as  are  true  in  heart  shall  follow  it. 

16  Who  will  rise  up  with  me  against  tlic  wicked  : 
or  will  take  my  part  against  the  evil-doers  ? 

17  If  the  Lord  had  not  helped  me  :  it  had  not  failed 
but  my  soul  had  been  put  to  silence. 

18  i3ut  when  I  said,  "My  foot   hath   slipt  "  :  thy 
mercy,  O  Lord,  held  me  up. 

142 


Mornino  Prayer 


PSALM  XCV 


Day  19 


19  In  the  multitude  of  the  sorrows  tliat  I  had  in  my 
heart  :  thy  comforts  have  refreshed  my  soul. 

20  Wilt  thou  have  any  thing  to  do  with  the  stool  of 
wickedness  :  which  imagineth  mischief  as  a  law  ? 

21  They  gather  them  together  against  the  soul  of 
the  righteous  :  and  condemn  the  innocent  blood. 

22  But  the  Lord  is  my  refuge  :  and  my  God  is  the 
strength  of  my  confidence. 

23  He  shall  recompense  them  their  wickedness,  and 
destroy'  them  in  their  own  malice  :  yea,  the  Lord  our 
God  shall  destroy  them. 


Among  the  curious  misuses 
of  this  psalm  is  one  by  Sir 
Henry  Parker,  Lord  Morley, 
who,  in  1534,  wrote  an  "  expo- 
sition" upon  it,  and  dedicated 
it  to  the  "  kyngeshighnes."  He 
was  one  of  the  peers  who  sat 
in  the  Parliament  of  1530,  and 
signed  the  ultimatum  to  Pope 
Clement  VH.  Full  of  fury  at 
the  Pope,  he  applies  this  psalm 
to  the  quarrel,  blessing  "the 
chastened"  Henry,  that  "  per- 
fect arke  of  all  princely  good- 
ness und  honour,"  and  wishing 
to  his  "ennemye  the  Babyloni- 
call  byshoppe  of  Rome,  re- 
proufe,  shame,  and  utter  mine." 
He  was  "'  adorned  with  all 
kinds  of  superficial  learning," 
says  Wood,  and  wrote  in  a 
style  of  refreshing  liveliness. 


Verse  I.  Sir  John  Oldcastle, 
when  tried  before  Parliament 
for  levying  war  upon  Henry  V. , 
made  a  defence  by  appealing 
to  something  like  the  principles 
which  are  now  called  anarchic, 
for  he  reminded  his  judges  that, 
according  to  this  psalm,  ven- 
geance being  God's,  they  must 
not  by  punishing  him  intrench 
upon  the  prerogative  of  the 
Almighty.  He  then  appealed  to 
his  "sovereign  King  Richard," 
whom  he  said  was  alive  and  in 
Scotland.  He  was  ordered  to 
be  hanged  and  burnt  for  treason 
and  heresy. 

Verse  17.  Basil  of  Seleucia 
relates  an  old  Christian  tradi- 
tion that  Lazarus  came  from 
the  tomb  with  these  words  (and 
Ps.  xl.  2)  on  his  lips. 


Latins. — Friday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Thursday  morning. 


PSALM  XCV.     Vemte  emltemus. 

OCOME,  let  us  sing  unto  the  Lord  :  let  us  heartily 
rejoice  in  the  strength  of  our  salvation. 

2  Let   us    come  before   his   presence   with   thanks- 
giving :  and  shew  ourselves  glad  in  him  with  psalms. 

3  For  the  Lord  is  a  great  God  :  and  a  great  King 
above  all  gods. 

143 


Day  jg  PSALM  XCVI  Morning  Prayei- 

4  In  his  hand  are  all  the  corners  of  the  earth  :  and 
the  strength  of  the  hills  is  his  also. 

5  The  sea  is  his,  and  he  made  it  :  and  his  hands 
prepared  the  dry  land. 

6  0  come,  let  us  worship,  and  fall  down  :  and  kneel 
before  the  Lord  our  Maker. 

7  For  he  is  the  Lord  our  God  :  and  we  are  the 
people  of  his  pasture,  and  the  sheep  of  his  hand. 

8  To  day  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice,  "  harden  not  your 
hearts  :  as  in  the  provocation,  and  as  in  the  day  of 
temptation  in  the  wilderness  ; 

9  "  When  your  fathers  tempted  me  :  proved  me,  and 
saw  my  works. 

10  "  Forty  years  long  was  I  grieved  with  this 
generation,  and  said  :  It  is  a  people  that  do  err  in 
their  hearts,  for  they  have  not  known  my  ways. 

1 1  "  Unto  whom  I  sware  in  my  wrath  :  that  they 
should  not  enter  into  my  rest." 

This  was  tlie  battle-song  of  both   in   the   East   and   West, 

the     Knights    Templars,     for  In  the  Middle  Ages  it  used  to 

whom  war  was  an  act  of  wor-  be  "  farsed,"  as  it  was  called — 

ship.     They  had  the  privilege  interspersed,  as   we  say — with 

of  asserting   and    proclaiming  fragments    of    other     psalms, 

that    the    hotly-debated    Holy  called  "  invitatories."     In  1549 

Land  was  in  "  His  hand."  it    was    ordered    to    be    sung 

It  was  the  first  hymn  which  simply.    The  Greeks,  who  seem 

in  summer  rose  from  the  20,000  to  like  cutting  and  carving  the 

religious  houses  of  the  West.  Psalms,    begin    their    worship 

This  psalm  has  always  been  with  verses  i,  3,  and  6. 
among  the  preludes  to  worship 

Liturgical  use. — Daily  at  Matins. 
Latins. — Epiphany  ;  daily  at  Matin=. 
Greeks.  — Thursday  morning. 

PSALM  XCVI.     Cantate  Doinino. 

OSING  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song  :  sing  unto  the 
Lord,  all  the  whole  earth. 

2  Sing  imto  the  Lord,  and  praise  his  Name  :  be 
telling  of  his  sahation  from  day  to  day. 

3  Declare  his  honour  unto  the  heathen  :  and  his 
wonders  unto  all  people. 

4  For  the  Lord  is  great,  and  cannot  worthily  be 
praised  :  he  is  more  to  be  feared  tlian  all  gods. 

144 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  XC VI I  Z>fly  19 

5  As  for  all  the  gods  of  the  heathen,  they  are  but 
idols  :  but  it  is  the  Lord  that  made  the  heavens. 

6  Glory  and  worship  are  before  him  :  power  and 
honour  are  in  his  sanctuary. 

7  Ascribe  unto  the  Lord,  O  ye  kindreds  of  the 
people  :  ascribe  unto  the  Lord  worship  and  power. 

8  Ascribe  unto  the  Lord  the  honour  due  unto  his 
Name  :  brmg  presents,  and  come  into  his  courts. 

9  0  worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holiness  :  let 
the  whole  earth  stand  in  awe  of  him. 

10  Tell  it  out  among  the  heathen  that  the  Lord  is 
King  :  and  that  it  is  he  who  hath  made  the  round 
world  so  fast  that  it  cannot  be  moved  ;  and  how  that 
he  shall  judge  the  people  righteously. 

1 1  Let  the  heavens  rejoice,  and  let  the  earth  be  glad : 
let  the  sea  make  a  noise,  and  all  that  therein  is, 

12  Let  the  field  be  joyful,  and  all  that  is  in  it  :  then 
shall  all  the  trees  of  the  wood  rejoice  before  the  Lord. 

13  For  he  cometh,  for  he  cometh  to  judge  the  earth: 
and  with  righteousness  to  judge  the  world,  and  the 
people  with  his  truth. 

This  psalm  and  the  next  were  equivalent  [a  Ugno),  therefore 
the  songs  of  triumph  and  deft-  became  a  kind  of  banner  motto 
ance  used  by  the  Christians,  against  Jews,  Arians,  and  other 
when  in  Julian's  reign  they  bore  oppugnersof our  Lord's  royalty, 
away  the  body  of  the  martyr  This  is  the  meaning  of  the  third 
Babylas  from  the  Orontes.  verse  of  that  hymn   of  Fortu- 

Verse  10.  St.  Justin  Martyr  natus,  Vexilla  Regis  prodeunt, 
accuses  the  Jews  of  purposely  (which  Dr.  Neale  translated 
leaving  out  the  words  (XTTo  ?('>\oy  "  The  Royal  Banners  forward 
(from  the  tree)  from  their  manu-  go"),  "Our  God  is  reigning 
scripts  of  the  LXX.  Bible,  from  the  tree." 
These   words,    or   their   Latin 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Epiphany  Mass  (e). 

Latins. — Friday  Matins  ;  Christmas  ;  Circumcision  ;  Epi- 
phany ;  Trinity  Sunday  ;  Dedication  of  a  Church  ;  Feasts 
of  Our  Lady  ;  St.  Michael. 

Greeks. — Thursday  morning. 

PSALM  XCVII.     Domimts  regnavit. 

THE  Lord  is  King,  the  earth  may  be  glad  thereof  : 
yea,  the  multitude  of  the  isles  may  be  glad  thereof. 
2  Clouds    and    darkness    are    round    about    him  : 
righteousness  and  judgement  are  the  habitation  of  his 
seat. 

145  ^ 


Day  ig  PSALM  XCVIII  Evening  Prayer 

3  There  shall  go  a  fire  before  him  :  and  burn  up  his 
enemies  on  every  side. 

4  His  lightnings  gave  shine  unto  the  world  :  the 
earth  saw  it,  and  was  afraid. 

5  The  hills  melted  hke  wax  at  the  presence  of  the 
Lord  :  at  the  presence  of  the  Lord  of  the  whole  earth. 

6  The  heavens  have  declared  his  righteousness  :  and 
all  the  people  have  seen  his  glory. 

7  Confounded  be  all  they  that  worship  carved 
images,  and  that  delight  in  vain  gods  :  worship  him, 
all  ye  gods. 

8  Sion  heard  of  it,  and  rejoiced  :  and  the  daughters 
of  Judah  were  glad,  because  of  thy  judgements,  O  Lord. 

9  For  thou.  Lord,  art  higher  than  all  that  are  in  the 
earth  :  thou  art  exalted  far  above  all  gods. 

10  O  ye  that  love  the  Lord,  see  that  ye  hate  the 
thing  which  is  evil  :  the  Lord  preserveth  the  souls  of 
his  saints  ;  he  shall  deliver  them  from  the  hand  of  the 
ungodly. 

1 1  There  is  sprung  up  a  Ught  for  the  righteous  ;  and 
joyful  gladness  for  such  as  are  true-hearted. 

12  Rejoice  in  the  Lord,  ye  righteous  :  and  give 
thanks  for  a  remembrance  of  his  holiness. 

This  psalm  has  been  a  great  greatest  opponents,  who  never 
favourite  with  the  Calvinist  suppose  that  it  teaches  things 
writers,  who  use  it  to  teach  inconsistent  with  the  tradition 
their  chief  tenets,  the  Sove-  of  the  Church  Catholic, 
reignty  of  God,  the  danger  of  l^erse  3.  Perhaps  this  verse 
idolatry,  Election  and  Repro-  (with  Pss.  xi.  6  and  xcvi.  13) 
bation,  and  the  right  of  the  helped  to  make  up  the  witness 
saints  to  rule  the  world.  It  is  of  David  in  the  Dies  IrcB  (see 
no  less  of  a  favourite  with  their     Ps.  cii.  25  and  26). 

Latins. — Friday  Matins  ;  Circumcision;  Epiphany;  Ascension- 
tide ;  Trinity  Sunday  ;  Apostles  and  Evangelists  ;  Festi- 
vals of  Our  Lady  ;  St.  Michael  ;  All  Saints. 

Greeks. — Thursday  morning. 


PSALM  XCVIII.     Cantate  Domino. 

OSING  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song  :  for  he  hath  done 
marvellous  things. 
2  With  his  own  right  hand,  and  with  his  holy  arm  : 
hath  he  gotten  himself  the  victory. 

146 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  XCIX  Day  \() 

3  The  Lord  declared  his  salvation  :  his  righteousness 
hath  he  openly  showed  in  the  sight  of  the  heathen. 

4  He  hath  remembered  his  mercy  and  truth  toward 
the  house  of  Israel  :  and  all  the  ends  of  the  world  have 
seen  the  salvation  of  our  God. 

5  Shew  yourselves  joyful  unto  the  Lord,  all  ye  lands  : 
sing,  rejoice,  and  give  thanks. 

6  Pi'aise  the  Lord  upon  the  harp  :  sing  to  the  harp 
with  a  psalm  of  thanksgivmg. 

7  With  trumpets  also,  and  shawms  :  0  shew  your- 
selves joyful  before  the  Lord  the  King. 

8  Let  the  sea  make  a  noise,  and  all  that  therein  is  : 
the  round  world,  and  they  that  dwell  therein. 

9  Let  the  floods  clap  their  hands,  and  let  the  hills  be 
joyful  together  before  the  Lord  :  for  he  is  come  to 
judge  the  earth. 

10  With  righteousness  shall  he  judge  the  world  :  and 
the  people  with  equity. 

This  psalm  was  allowed  at  proportion,  the  Psalms  have 
Evensong  as  an  alternative  to  towered  over  every  other 
the  Magnificat  in  1552,  in  order  vehicle  of  general  devotion." 
that  the  extreme  Protestants  "  We  have  a  conspicuous  illus- 
should  not  be  forced  to  use  the  tration  of  their  office  in  the 
triumph  song  of  the  Blessed  fact  that,  of  two  hundred  and 
Virgin  Mary.  This  was  a  forty-three  citations  from  the 
kindly  act  of  inclusion.  Old   Testament   found   in   the 

"  The  Psalms  have  dwelt  in  pages  of  the  New,  no  less  than 
the  Christian  heart  and  in  the  one  hundred  and  si.\teen  are 
centre  of  that  heart  :  and  from  the  single  Book  of  Psalms, 
wherever  the  pursuits  of  the  and  that  a  similar  proportion 
inner  life  have  been  most  holds  with  most  of  the  early 
largely  conceived  and  culti-  Fathers "  (.l/r.  Gladstone). 
vated,  there,  and  in  the  same 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  the  Christ  Mass  (e)  ;  alternative  to 
the  Magnificat  in  the  daily  Evensong. 

Latins. — Saturday  Matins  ;  Christmas  ;  Circumcision  ;  Trinity 
Sunday  ;  Feasts  of  Our  Lady. 

Greeks. — Thursday  morning. 

PSALM  XCIX.     Lominus  regnavit. 

THE  Lord  is  King,  be  the  people  never  so  impatient : 
he  sitteth  between  the  cherubims,  be  the  earth 
never  so  unquiet. 

2  The  Lord  is  great  in  Sion  :  and  high  above  all 
people. 

H7 


Day  19  PSALM  C  Evening  Prayer 

3  They  shall  give  thanks  unto  thy  Name  :  which  is 
great,  wonderful,  and  holy. 

4  The  King's  power  loveth  judgement ;  thou  hast 
prepared  equity  :  thou  hast  executed  judgement  and 
righteousness  in  Jacob. 

5  O  magnify  the  Lord  our  God  :  and  fall  down  before 
his  footstool,  for  he  is  holy. 

6  Moses  and  Aaron  among  his  priests,  and  Samuel 
among  such  as  call  upon  his  Name  :  these  called  upon 
the  Lord,  and  he  heard  them. 

7  He  spake  unto  them  out  of  the  cloudy  pillar  :  for 
they  kept  his  testimonies,  and  the  law  that  he  gave 
them. 

8  Thou  heardest  them,  O  Lord  our  Lord  :  thou  for- 
gavest  them,  O  God,  and  punishedst  their  own  inven- 
tions. 

9  O  magnify  the  Lord  our  God,  and  worship  him 
upon  his  holy  hill  :  for  the  Lord  om'  God  is  holy. 

This  psalm  was  much  used  The  Lord  that  doth  in  Sion 
by   the    Puritan    party   in    the  dwell 
Civil  Wars,  and  by  the  Cove-  Is     high     and     wondrous 
nanters.      The  version   autho-  great : 
rized  by  the  Kirk  of  Scotland  Above  all  folk  He  doth  excell, 
in  1641    thus   paraphrases   the  And  He  aloft  is  set." 
°"S>nal:  Southey    tells    us    that    the 
"The   Lord   doth   reigne,   al-  change  from  the  Old  Version  to 
though  at  it  the  New  Version  created  a  great 
The  people  rage  full  sore  bitterness  and  outcry  in  North- 
Yea,  He  on  Cherubins  doth  ern  parishes,  possibly  as  great 
sit,  as  when  the  colour  of  the  gowns 
Though  all  the  world  doth  is  changed,  or  stoles  are  used 
roar.  instead  of  scarves. 

Latins. — Saturday    Matins;    Circumcision;    Ascension-tide; 

Apostles  and  Evangelists  ;  Dedication  Feast. 
Greeks. — Thursday  morning. 

PSALM  C.     JuUlate  Deo. 

OBE  joyful  in  the  Lord,  aU  ye  lands  :  serve  the 
Lord  with  gladness,  and  come  before  his  presence 
with  a  song. 

2  Be  ye  sure  that  the  Lord  he  is  God  :  it  is  he  that 
hath  made  us,  and  not  we  ourselves ;  we  are  his  people, 
and  the  sheep  of  his  pasture. 

148 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  CI  Day  19 

3  O  go  your  way  into  his  gates  with  thanksgiving, 
and  into  his  courts  with  praise  :  be  thankful  unto  him, 
and  speak  good  of  his  name. 

4  For  the  Lord  is  gracious,  his  mercy  is  everlasting  : 
and  his  truth  endureth  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion. 

This   psalm   was    placed   in  version  Mrs.   Ford  (in  "  Merry 

our    daily    Morning    office    to  Wives  ")  has  in  mind  when  she 

satisfy  objections  in  1552,  and  says  the  hundredth  psalm  will 

to  avoid  repetition.     It  is  not,  not  keep  place  together  with  the 

of     course,    used     unless    the  tune  of  "Green  sleeves";  and 

Benedictus     comes     in     other  Longfellow  alludes  to  the  same 

parts  of  the  service.  version  in  his  hexameter — 

The  hymn  "All  people  that 

on   earth   do    dwell,"    was   by  "Singing  the  hundredth  psalm, 

William      Kethe,     a      Puritan  that  grand    old    Puritan 

friend  of  Knox's,  and  the  "  Old  anthem." 
Hundredth  "  tune  is  from  the 

Psalter  of    1580    A.D. — a   tra-  The  Talmud  says  that  Psalms 

ditional  chorale,  some  say,  by  xc.  to  c. ,  except  Ps.  xcii. ,  were 

Luther.      It   is    probably   this  composed  by  Moses. 

Liturgical  use. — At  the  daily  Matins,  if  Benedictus  comes  in 
the  Gospel  or  Lesson  ;  Introit  to  Mass  on  Whit  Monday  (e). 

Latins. — Sunday  Lauds. 

Greeks. — Thursday  morning. 

PSALM  CI.     Misericordiam  et  judicium. 

MY  song  shall  be  of  mercy  and  judgement  :  unto 
thee,  O  Lord,  will  I  sing. 

2  0  let  me  have  understanding  :  in  the  way  of 
godliness. 

3  When  %vilt  thou  come  tmto  me  :  I  will  walk  in  my 
house  with  a  perfect  heart. 

4  I  will  take  no  wicked  thing  in  hand ;  I  hate  the 
sins  of  unfaithfuhiess  :  there  shall  no  such  cleave  unto 
me. 

5  A  froward  heart  shall  depart  from  me  :  I  will  not 
know  a  wicked  person. 

6  Whoso  privUy  slandereth  his  neighbour  :  him  will 
I  destroy. 

7  Whoso  hath  also  a  proud  look  and  high  stomach  : 
I  will  not  suffer  him. 

8  Mine  eyes  look  upon  such  as  are  faithful  in  the 
land  :  that  they  may  dwell  with  me. 

149 


Day  20 


PSALM  CII 


Morning  Prayer 


9  Whoso  leadeth  a  godly  life  :  he  shall  be  my  ser- 
vant. 

10  There  shall  no  deceitful  person  dwell  in  my  house  : 
he  that  telleth  lies  shall  not  tarry  in  my  sight. 

1 1  I  shall  soon  destroy  all  the  ungodly  that  are  in 
the  land  :  that  I  may  root  all  the  wicked  doers  from 
the  city  of  the  Lord. 


This  psalm  and  the  next  were 
sunsT  at  the  death  of  Monica 
by  St.  Augustine  and  his  son 
Adeodatus,  with  Euodius,  and 
the  household. 

Bacon  recommended  George 
Villiers  to  make  a  study  of  this 
psalm,  and  to  be  ruled  by  it 
when  he  promoted  the  cour- 
tiers. 

Verse  i.  The  opening  words 
of  this  psalm  were  the  expres- 
sion of  poor  Cowper's  joy,  on 
his  recovery  from  the  deep 
melancholy  which  caused  him 
to  be  put  under  the  care  of  Dr. 
Cotton.  When  at  last  the 
light   broke   in   upon   him,   he 


'■  felt  it  almost  waste  of  time  to 
sleep,  he  was  so  happy."  Then 
he  wrote  the  song  of  Mercy 
and  Judgment  which  begins, 
"  Lord,  I  love  the  habitation." 

"  Me  through  waves  of  deep 
affliction, 

Dearest  Saviour,  Thou  hast 
brought ; 

Fiery  deeps  of  sharp  convic- 
tion, 

Hard  to  bear  and  passing 
thought. 

Sweet  the  sound  of  grace 
Divine, 

Sweet  the  grace  which  makes 
me  Thine." 


Liturgical  use. — Introit    for    Mass  on   Whit   Tuesday    (e)  ; 

Queen's  Accession. 
Latins. — Saturday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Thursday  morning  ;  First  hour. 


PSALM  CII.     Do/nine,  exaiidi. 

HEAR  my  prayer,  O  Lord  :  and  let  my  crying  come 
imto  thee. 

2  Hide  not  thy  face  from  me  in  the  time  of  my 
trouble  :  incline  thine  ear  unto  me  when  I  call ;  0 
hear  me,  and  that  right  soon. 

3  For  my  days  are  consumed  away  like  smoke  :  and 
my  bones  are  burnt  up  as  it  were  a  fire-brand. 

4  My  heart  is  smitten  down,  and  withered  like  grass  : 
so  that  I  forget  to  eat  my  bread. 

5  For  the  voice  of  my  groaning  :  my  bones  will 
scarce  cleave  to  my  flesh. 


Moniitig  Prayer  PSALM  CII  Dayia 

6  I  am  become  like  a  pelican  in  the  wilderness  :  and 
like  an  owl  that  is  in  the  desert. 

7  I  have  watched,  and  am  even  as  it  were  a  sparrow : 
that  sitteth  alone  upon  the  house-top. 

8  Mine  enemies  revile  me  all  the  day  long  :  and 
they  that  are  mad  upon  me  are  sworn  together 
against  me. 

9  For  I  have  eaten  ashes  as  it  were  bread  :  and 
mingled  my  drink  with  weeping ; 

10  And  that  because  of  thine  indignation  and  wrath  : 
for  thou  hast  taken  me  up,  and  cast  me  down. 

1 1  My  days  are  gone  like  a  shadow  :  and  I  am 
withered  like  grass. 

12  But,  thou,  0  Lord,  shalt  endm-e  for  ever  :  and 
thy  remembrance  throughout  all  generations. 

13  Thou  shalt  arise,  and  have  mercy  upon  Sion  : 
for  it  is  time  that  thou  have  mercy  upon  her,  yea, 
the  time  is  come. 

14  And  why?  thy  servants  think  upon  her  stones  : 
and  it  pitieth  them  to  see  her  in  the  dust. 

15  The  heathen  shall  fear  thy  Name,  0  Lord  :  and 
all  the  kings  of  the  earth  thy  Majesty ; 

16  When  the  Lord  shall  bmld  up  Sion  :  and  when 
his  glory  shall  appear  ; 

17  When  he  turneth  him  unto  the  prayer  of  the 
poor  destitute  :  and  despiseth  not  their  desire. 

18  This  shall  be  written  for  those  that  come  after  : 
and  the  people  which  shall  be  born  shall  praise  the 
Lord. 

19  For  he  hath  looked  down  from  his  sanctuary  :  out 
of  the  heaven  did  the  Lord  behold  the  earth  ; 

20  That  he  might  hear  the  mournings  of  such  as  are 
in  captivity  :  and  dehver  the  children  appointed  unto 
death ; 

21  That  they  may  declare  the  Name  of  the  Lord  in 
Sion  :  and  his  worship  at  Jerusalem  ; 

22  When  the  people  are  gathered  together  :  and  the 
kingdoms  also,  to  serve  the  Lord. 

23  He  brought  down  my  strength  in  my  journey  : 
and  shortened  my  days. 

24  But  I  said,  0  my  God,  take  me  not  away  in  the 
midst  of  mine  age  :  as  for  thy  years,  they  endure 
throughout  aU  generations. 

151 


Day  ao 


PSALM  CI  I 


Morning  Prayer 


25  Thou,  Lord,  in  the  begmning  hast  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  earth  :  and  the  heavens  are  the 
work  of  thy  hands. 

26  They  shall  perish,  but  thou  shalt  endure  :  they 
all  shall  wax  old  as  doth  a  garment ; 

27  And  as  a  vesture  shalt  thou  change  them,  and 
they  shall  be  changed  :  but  thou  art  the  same,  and  thy 
years  shall  not  fail. 

28  The  children  of  thy  servants  shall  continue  :  and 
their  seed  shall  stand  fast  in  thy  sight. 

Tliis  is  the  fifth   penitential        As  dooth  the  smoke  vanish 
psalm.      These    are    Pss.    vi., 
XXX.,  xxxviii. ,    li.,    cii.,   cxxx., 
cxliii.  {vide  Ps.  vi.)     It  is  the 
antidote  to  Avarice. 

The  Emperor  Charles  V.  had 
these  seven  psalms  read  again 
and  again  to  him  in  his  last 
sickness  at  St.  Juste  (Sept., 
1568). 

Verse  i.  These  are  the  words 
which  in  so  many  services  usher 
in  the  Collect  or  Summary  of 
all  that  is  prayed  for.  They 
are  used  thus  not  only  in  our 
Litany,  for  instance,  but  in  that 
ancient  service  at  which,  from 
Edward  the  Confessor's  time 
onwards,  English  monarchs 
have  touched  for  the  King's 
Evil. 

Verse  5.  William  Hunnis, 
Queen  Elizabeth's  choirmaster 
at  the  Chapel  Royal,  was 
among  the  earlier  authors  who 
"reduced  into  meeter"  the 
seven  psalms.  His  book  is 
rather  a  commentary  upon  than 
a  translation  of  the  original 
(1583).  It  is  exquisitely  bound, 
and  has  tunes  to  it.  It  is  called 
"Seven  sobs  of  a  sorrowfuU 
soule  for  sinne. "  This  is  his 
comment  to  this  verse  : 

"  Age  overtaketh  youth,  I  see, 
and  youth  by  stealth  dooth 
flie, 


awaie 
aloft  vnder  the  skie.  [so 

Yea,  manie  times  it  chanceth 
ere  age  come  us  upon, 
That  death   by  stroke   such 

wound  doth  make, 
that  life  with  speed  is  gone. 
Thus  passeth  foorth  my  time 

of  life 
more  swifter,  I  may  sale, 
Than  is  the  ship  good  under 

saile, 
or  eagle  after  praie." 

Verse  6.  This  gave  to  Chris- 
tian art  the  pelican  as  the 
symbol  of  our  Lord,  as  in 
St.  Thomas  Aquinas'  hymn 
"  Adoro  te  "  (312  A.  and  M.)  : 

"  Pie  Pellicane,  Jesu  Domine  / 
Me  itnmundum  munda    Tuo 
sanguine." 

Verse  10.  Quoted  by  Origen 
in  his  bitter  lament  for  his 
apostasy  [vide  Ps.  1.). 

Verse  II.  "  My  days  are  gone 
like  a  shadow  that  declineth  " 
is  the  Arbroath  dial  motto. 
Dies  mei  sicut  umbra  declina- 
verunt,  is  the  dial  motto  of  St. 
Michele,  near  Venice. 

Verses  25  and  26.  St.  Augus- 
tine assigns  these  verses  as  the 
witness  of  David  to  the  Dooms- 
day alluded  to  in  the  "anvil 
hymn  "  of  the  Dies  Irce,  see 
xcvii.  3. 


152 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  CI II  Day  2.0 

Liturgical  use. — Ash  Wednesday  evening. 
Latins. — Saturday  Matins. 

Greeks. — Thursday  morning  ;  late  Evensong  in  Lent ;  Visita- 
tion of  the  Sick  ;  Confession  ;  For  the  dying. 

PSALM  cm.     Benedic,  anima  mea. 

PRAISE  the  Lord,  O   my  soul   :   and  all   that   is 
withua  me  praise  his  holy  Name. 

2  Praise  the  Lord,  0  my  soul  :  and  forget  not  all  his 
benefits ; 

3  Who  forgiveth  all  thy  sins  :  and  healeth  all  thine 
infirmities ; 

4  Who  saveth  thy  life  from  destruction  :  and 
crowneth  thee  with  mercy  and  loving-kindness  ; 

5  Who  satisfieth  thy  mouth  with  good  things  : 
making  thee  young  and  lusty  as  an  eagle. 

6  The  Lord  executeth  righteousness  and  judgement  : 
for  all  them  that  are  oppressed  with  wrong. 

7  He  shewed  his  waj's  unto  Moses  :  his  works  unto 
the  cMldren  of  Israel. 

8  The  Lord  is  full  of  compassion  and  mercy  :  long- 
suffering,  and  of  great  goodness. 

9  He  will  not  alway  be  chiding  :  neither  keepeth  he 
his  anger  for  ever. 

10  He  hath  not  dealt  with  us  after  our  sins  :  nor 
rewarded  us  according  to  our  wickednesses. 

1 1  For  look  how  high  the  heaven  is  in  comparison 
of  the  earth ;  so  great  is  his  mercy  also  toward  them 
that  fear  him. 

12  Look  how  wide  also  the  east  is  from  the  west  : 
so  far  hath  he  set  our  sins  from  us. 

13  Yea,  like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  own  children  : 
even  so  is  the  Lord  merciful  unto  them  that  fear  him. 

14  For  he  knoweth  whereof  we  are  made  :  he 
remembereth  that  we  are  but  dust. 

1 5  The  days  of  man  are  but  as  grass  :  for  he  flour- 
isheth  as  a  flower  of  the  field. 

16  For  as  soon  as  the  wind  goeth  over  it,  it  is  gone  : 
and  the  place  thereof  shall  know  it  no  more. 

17  But  the  merciful  goodness  of  the  Lord  endureth 
for  ever  and  ever  upon  them  that  fear  him  :  and  his 
righteousness  upon  children's  children. 

153 


Day  20  PSALM  CIV  Evening  Prayer 

18  Even  upon  such  as  keep  his  covenant  :  and  think 
upon  his  commandments  to  do  them. 

19  The  Lord  hath  prepared  his  seat  in  heaven  :  and 
his  kingdom  ruleth  over  all. 

20  O  praise  the  Lord,  ye  angels  of  his,  ye  that  excel 
in  strength  :  ye  that  fulfil  his  commandment,  and 
hearken  unto  the  voice  of  his  words. 

21  O  praise  the  Lord,  aU  ye  his  hosts  :  ye  servants 
of  his  that  do  his  pleasure. 

22  O  speak  good  of  the  Lord,  all  ye  works  of  his,  in 
all  places  of  his  dominion  :  praise  thou  the  Lord,  0 
my  soul. 

The  followers  of  John  Knox  near  his  end  "  he  did  often  say 

sang    this    as    a    Eucharistic  the    103rd   psalm    to    himself, 

psalm.  and  'My  heart  is  fixed'    (Ps. 

Dr.    Robert   Saunderson,  in  Ivii.  8)." 
his    last    sickness,    always   re-  The  first  five  verses  of  this 
peated,    as   he  was   wont,  the  psalm  were  said  in  the  Anglo- 
psalms  for  the  day  both  morn-  Saxon  vernacular  Prime, 
ing  and  evening.     As  he  drew 

Liturgical  use. — Rogation  psalm. 

Latins. — Saturday    Matins;     Ascension  -  tide  ;    St.    Michael 

(Sarum,  All  Saints). 
Greeks. — Thursday  morning  ;  Dawn. 


PSALM  CIV,     Benedic,  anima  mea. 

PRAISE  the  Lord,  0  my  soul :  0  Lord  my  God,  thou 
art  become  exceeding  glorious  ;  thou  art  clothed 
with  majesty  and  honour. 

2  Thou  deckest  thyself  with  light  as  it  were  with  a 
garment  :  and  spreadest  out  the  heavens  like  a  curtain. 

3  Who  layeth  the  beams  of  his  chambers  in  the 
waters  :  and  maketh  the  clouds  his  chariot,  and  walketh 
upon  the  wings  of  the  wind. 

4  He  maketh  his  angels  spirits  :  and  his  ministers  a 
flaming  fire. 

5  He  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth  :  that  it  never 
should  move  at  any  time. 

6  Thou  coveredst  it  vnih.  the  deep  like  as  with  a 
garment  :  the  waters  stand  in  the  hills. 

7  At    thy  rebuke    they  flee  :  at    the  voice    of    thy 
hunder  they  are  afraid. 

154 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  CIV  Day  20 

8  They  go  up  as  high  as  the  hills,  and  down  to  the 
valleys  beneath  :  even  unto  the  place  which  thou  hast 
appointed  for  them. 

9  Thou  hast  set  thena  their  bounds  which  they  shall 
not  pass  :  neither  turn  again  to  cover  the  earth. 

10  He  sendeth  the  springs  into  the  rivers  :  which 
run  among  the  hills. 

1 1  All  beasts  of  the  field  drink  thereof  :  and  the  wild 
asses  quench  their  thirst. 

12  Beside  them  shall  the  fowls  of  the  air  have  their 
habitation  :  and  sing  among  the  branches. 

13  He  watereth  the  hills  from  above  :  the  earth  is 
filled  with  the  fruit  of  thy  works. 

1 4  He  bringeth  forth  grass  for  the  cattle  :  and  green 
herb  for  the  service  of  men  ; 

15  That  he  may  bring  food  out  of  the  earth,  and 
wine  that  maketh  glad  the  heart  of  man  :  and  oil 
to  make  him  a  cheerful  countenance,  and  bread  to 
strengthen  man's  heart. 

16  The  trees  of  the  Lord  also  are  full  of  sap  :  even 
the  cedars  of  Libanus  which  he  hath  planted ; 

17  Wherein  the  birds  make  their  nests  :  and  the 
fir-trees  are  a  dwelling  for  the  stork. 

18  The  high  hills  are  a  refuge  for  the  wild  goats  : 
and  so  are  the  stony  rocks  for  the  conies. 

19  He  appointed  the  moon  for  certain  seasons  :  and 
the  sun  knoweth  his  going  down. 

20  Thou  makest  darkness  that  it  may  be  night  : 
wherein  all  the  beasts  of  the  forest  do  move. 

2 1  The  lions  roaring  after  their  pray  :  do  seek  their 
meat  from  God. 

22  The  sun  ariseth,  and  they  get  them  away  to- 
gether :  and  lay  them  down  in  their  dens. 

23  Man  goeth  forth  to  his  work  and  to  his  labour  : 
imtil  the  evening. 

24  O  Lord,  how  manifold  are  thy  works  :  in  wisdom 
hast  thou  made  them  all ;  the  earth  is  full  of  thy 
riches. 

25  So  is  the  great  and  wide  sea  also  :  wherem  are 
things  creeping  innumerable,  both  small  and  great 
beasts. 

26  There  go  the  ships,  and  there  is  that  Leviathan  : 
whom  thou  hast  made  to  take  his  pastime  therein. 

155 


Day  20 


PSALM  CIV 


Evening  Prayer 


27  These  wait  all  upon  thee  :  that  thou  mayest  give 
them  meat  in  due  season. 

28  When  thou  givest  it  them  they  gather  it  :  and 
when  thou  openest  thy  hand  they  are  filled  with  good. 

29  When  thou  hidest  thy  face  they  are  troubled  : 
when  thou  takest  away  their  breath  they  die,  and  are 
turned  again  to  their  dust. 

30  When  thou  lettest  thy  breath  go  forth  they  shall 
be  made  :  and  thou  shalt  renew  the  face  of  the  earth. 

31  The  glorious  Majesty  of  the  Lord  shall  endure  for 
ever  :  the  Lord  shall  rejoice  in  his  works. 

32  The  earth  shall  tremble  at  the  look  of  him  :  if  he 
do  but  touch  the  hills,  they  shall  smoke. 

33  I  will  sing  unto  the  Lord  as  long  as  I  live  :  I  will 
praise  my  God  while  I  have  my  being. 

34  And  so  shall  my  words  please  him  :  my  joy  shall 
be  in  the  Lord. 

35  As  for  sinners,  they  shall  be  consumed  out  of  the 
earth,  and  the  ungodly  shall  come  to  an  end  :  praise 
thou  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  praise  the  Lord. 


On  the  Monday,  Tuesday, 
and  Wednesday  before  Ascen- 
sion day  (Rogation  days)  the 
parish  bounds  were  beaten 
(called  "ganging"  in  the 
North),  and  Litanies  were 
chanted  to  entreat  for  the 
kindly  fruits  of  the  earth  in  due 
season.  The  psalms  used  then 
were  ciii.  and  civ. 

This  psalm  was  a  favourite 
with  Henry  Vaughan,  Bacon, 
and  Alexander  von  Humboldt. 
Bacon  translated  it  into  metre, 
and  showed  thereby  that  his 
description  of  himself  as  a 
"concealed  poet"  was  not 
quite  an  empty  boast. 

His  book  is  Certaine  Psalmes 
written  by  him  in  sickness, 
1624,  and  dedicated  to  his  very 
good  friend  George  Herbert. 

"The   sappy  cedars   tall   like 
stalely  tow'rs 
High  flying  birds  do  harbour 
in  their  bow'rs, 


The  holy  storks,  that  are  the 

travellers, 
Choose  for  to  dwell  and  build 

within  the  firs  ; 
The  climbing  goats  hang  on 

steep  mountain  side. 
The   digging   conies   in   the 

rocks  do  bide." 


V^erse  23.  This  was  the  text 
of  John  Henry  Newman's  first 
sermon,  and  also  of  his  last 
sermon  as  an  English  priest, 
September  25th,  1843. 

Verse  24.  St.  Athanasius  may 
almost  be  said  to  have  com- 
posed his  great  orations  against 
the  Arians  as  sermons  upon 
this  verse,  so  often  does  he 
quote  it. 

Bauhinus  the  botanist  (1541- 
1613)  chose  it  as  a  motto  for 
his  Historia  Plantarum. 

Verse  30.  St.  Wilfrid  of 
York,  in  709  A.D. ,  died  at  St. 
Andrew's,  Oundle,  leaning  back 
his  head  upon  the  pillow,  with- 

156 


Morning  Prayer-  PSALM  CV  Day  21 

out  groan  or  murinur,  just  as  soul    into    the    hands    of    his 

from    the    minster   choir  rose  Creator,  and  thus  entered  into 

the  chant   of  Kmitte  spirituin  the     everlasting     banquet     of 

tiium  ei  renovabisfaciem  terrce.  God's  Lamb." 
And  "  he  happily  resigned  his 

Liturgical  use. — Whit-Sunday  evening  ;  Rogation  psalm. 

Latins. — Saturday  Matins  ;  Whitsuntide. 

Greeks. — Thursday  morning  ;  Preface  to  Evensong. 


PSALM  CV.     Confitemini  Domii\o. 

OGIVE  thanks  rnito  the  Lord,  and  call  upon  his 
Name  :  tell  the  people  what  things  lie  hath  done. 

2  0  let  your  songs  be  of  him,  and  praise  him  :  and 
let  your  talking  be  of  all  his  wondrous  works. 

3  Rejoice  in  his  holy  Name  :  let  the  heart  of  them 
rejoice  that  seek  the  Lord. 

4  Seek  the  Lord  and  his  strength  :  seek  his   face 
evermore. 

5  Remember  the  marvellous   works   that  he   hath 
done  :  his  wonders,  and  the  judgements  of  his  mouth, 

6  O  ye  seed  of  Abraham  his  servant  :  ye  children  of 
Jacob  his  chosen. 

7  He  is  the  Lord  our  God  :  his  judgements  are  in  all 
the  world. 

8  He  hath  been  alway  mindful  of  his  covenant  and 
promise  :  that  he  made  to  a  thousand  generations ; 

9  Even  the  covenant  that  he  made  with  Abraham  ; 
and  the  oath  that  he  sware  irnto  Isaac  ; 

10  And  appointed  the  same  unto  Jacob  for  a  law  : 
and  to  Israel  for  an  everlasting  testament ; 

1 1  Saying,    "  Unto   thee   wiU   I  give    the    land   of 
Canaan  :  the  lot  of  your  inheritance ;" 

12  When  there  were  yet  but  a  few  of  them  :  and 
they  strangers  in  the  land ; 

13  What  tune  as  they  went  from    one    nation   to 
another  :  from  one  kingdom  to  another  people  ; 

14  He   suffered  no  man  to   do   them   wrong  :  but 
reproved  even  kings  for  their  sakes  ; 

15  "  Touch  not  mine  Anointed  :  and  do  my  prophets 
no  harm." 

16  Moreover,  he  called  for  a  dearth  upon  the  land  : 
and  destroyed  aU  the  provision  of  bread. 

157 


Day  21  PSALM  CV  Morning  Prayer 

17  But  he  had  sent  a  man  before  them  :  even  Joseph, 
who  was  sold  to  be  a  bond-servant ; 

18  Whose  feet  they  hurt  in  the  stocks  :  the  iron 
entered  into  his  soul ; 

19  UntU  the  time  came  that  his  cause  was  known  : 
the  word  of  the  Lord  tried  him. 

20  The  king  sent,  and  dehvered  him  :  the  prince  of 
the  people  let  him  go  free. 

2 1  He  made  him  lord  also  of  his  house  :  and  ruler  of 
all  his  substance ; 

22  That  he  might  inform  his  princes  after  his  will  : 
and  teach  his  senators  wisdom. 

23  Israel  also  came  into  Egypt  :  and  Jacob  was  a 
stranger  in  the  land  of  Ham. 

24  And  he  increased  his  people  exceedingly  :  and 
made  them  stronger  than  their  enemies ; 

25  Whose  heart  turned  so  that  they  hated  his 
people  :  and  dealt  untruly  with  his  servants. 

26  Then  sent  he  Moses  his  servant :  and  Aaron  whom 
he  had  chosen. 

27  And  these  shewed  his  tokens  among  them  :  and 
wonders  in  the  land  of  Ham. 

28  He  sent  darkness,  and  it  was  dark  :  and  they 
were  not  obedient  unto  his  word. 

29  He  turned  their  waters  into  blood  :  and  slew 
their  fish. 

30  Their  land  brought  forth  frogs  :  yea,  even  in  their 
kings'  chambers. 

31  He  spake  the  word,  and  there  came  all  manner  of 
flies  :  and  lice  in  all  their  quarters. 

32  He  gave  them  hail-stones  for  rain  :  and  flames  of 
fire  in  their  land. 

'if'^  He  smote  their  vines  also  and  fig-trees  :  and 
destroj'ed  the  trees  that  were  in  theu'  coasts. 

34  He  spake  the  word,  and  the  grasshoppers  came, 
and  caterpillars  innumerable  :  and  did  eat  up  all  the 
grass  in  their  land,  and  devoured  the  fruit  of  their 
ground. 

35  He  smote  all  the  first-born  in  their  land  :  even 
the  chief  of  all  their  strength. 

36  He  brought  them  forth  also  with  silver  and  gold  : 
there  was  not  one  feeble  person  among  their  tribes. 

158 


Morning  Prayer 


PSALM  CV 


Day  21 


27  Egypt  was  glad  at  their  departing  :  for  they  were 
afraid  of  them. 

38  He  spread  out  a  cloud  to  be  a  covering  :  and  fire 
to  give  light  in  the  night-season. 

39  At  their  desu'e  he  brought  quails  :  and  he  filled 
them  with  the  bread  of  heaven. 

40  He  opened  the  rock   of   stone,  and   the  waters 
flowed  out  :  so  that  rivers  ran  in  the  dry  places. 

4 1  For  why  ?  he  remembered  his  holy  promise  :  and 
Abraham  his  servant. 

42  And  he  brought  forth  his  people  with  joy  :  and 
his  chosen  with  gladness. 

43  And  gave  them  the  lands  of  the  heathen  :  and 
they  took  the  labours  of  the  people  in  possession  ; 

44  That  they  might  keep  his  statutes  :  and  observe 
his  laws. 


Verse  14.  The  first  Papal 
legates,  who  came  over  to 
England  to  claim  Papal  supre- 
macy (from  Pope  Adrian,  A.n. 
785),  used  this  verse  as  an  in- 
stance of  the  superiority  of  the 
ecclesiastical  over  the  civil  juris- 
diction. It  has  often  done  duly 
for  the  same  purpose  since. 

Verse  15.  It  is  needless  to 
say  that  this  was  constantly  in 
the  mouths  of  loyal  Church- 
men during  the  civil  wars, 
plots,  and  revolutions  of  the 
seventeenth  century  ;  and  the 
application  was  nothing  new 
then,  for  Thomas  Merks,  the 
Bishop  of  Carlisle,  pointed  it 
out  to  Henry  IV.,  in  a  vigorous 
and  manful  speech  he  made  in 
defence  of  Richard  II.  The 
bishop  was  promptly  lodged  in 
the  dungeon  of  St.  Albans 
Abbey  for  his  boldness  of 
utterance. 

In  the  letter  of  Edmund  Ver- 
ney  to  his  brother  Ralph  (they 
were  both  sons  of  Charles  I. 's 
standard-bearer)  we  find  this 
remonstrance  :  "  It  greeves  my 


hearte  to  think  that  my  father 
already  and  I  who  soe  dearly 
love  and  esteemeyou  should  be 
bound  in  consequence  (because 
of  our  duty  to  our  King)  to  be 
your  enemy.  I  heare  tis  a  great 
greefe  to  my  father.  I  beseech 
you  consider  that  majesty  is 
sacred  ;  God  sayth  Touch  not 
myne  anointed ;  it  troubled 
Davyd  that  he  cutt  but  the 
lapp  of  Saul's  garment." 

Verse  28.  Dr.  Reynolds,  at 
the  Hampton  Court  Confer- 
ence, proposed  that ' '  disobedi- 
ent "  be  put  for  "obedient," 
as  the  Nonconformists  felt  this 
mistranslation  to  be  a  stumb- 
ling-block. The  Revisers,  both 
then  and  of  our  time,  followed 
the  Nonconformists  here  with- 
out dispute,  and  translate, 
"  And  they  rebelled  not  against 
his  words." 

Dr.  Sparks  had  a  contro- 
versy with  Whitgift  on  this 
very  verse  in  1589,  from  which 
armoury  the  weapons  for  the 
later  dispute  were  mostly 
drawn. 


159 


Day  21  PSALM  CVI  Evening  Prayer 

Latins. — Saturday  Matins. 

Greeks. — Last  psalm  for  Thursday  Matins. 


PSALM  CVI.     Confitemini  Domino. 

OGIVE  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is  gracious  : 
and  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

2  Who  can  express  the  noble  acts  of  the  Lord  :  or 
shew  forth  all  his  praise  ? 

3  Blessed  are  they  that  alway  keep  judgement  :  and 
do  righteousness. 

4  Remember  me,  0  Lord,  according  to  the  favour 
that  thou  bearest  unto  thy  people  :  O  visit  me  with 
thy  salvation. 

5  That  I  may  see  the  felicity  of  thy  chosen  :  and 
rejoice  in  the  gladness  of  thy  people,  and  give  thanks 
with  thine  inheritance. 

6  We  have  sinned  with  our  fathers  :  we  have  done 
amiss,  and  dealt  wickedly. 

7  Our  fathers  regarded  not  thy  wonders  in  Egypt, 
neither  kept  they  thy  great  goodness  in  remembrance  : 
but  were  disobedient  at  the  sea,  even  at  the  Red  sea. 

8  Nevertheless,  he  helped  them  for  his  Name's 
sake  :  that  he  might  make  his  power  to  be  known. 

9  He  rebuked  the  Red  sea  also,  and  it  was  dried 
up  :  so  he  led  them  through  the  deep,  as  through  a 
wilderness. 

10  And  he  saved  them  from  the  adversary's  hand  : 
and  delivered  them  from  the  hand  of  the  onemy. 

11  As  for  those  that  troubled  them,  llie  waters 
overwhelmed  them  :  there  was  not  one  ct'  i.  >  ni  left. 

12  Then  believed  they  his  words  :  and  sang  praise 
unto  him. 

13  But  within  a  while  they  forgat  his  works  :  and 
would  not  abide  his  counsel. 

14  But  lust  came  upon  them  in  the  wilderness  :  and 
they  tempted  God  in  the  desert. 

15  And  he  gave  them  their  desire  :  and  sent  lean- 
ness withal  into  their  soul. 

16  They  angered  Moses  also  in  the  tents  :  and 
Aaron  the  saint  of  the  Lord. 

160 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM   CVl  D.iy  21 

17  So  the  earth  opened,  and  swallowed  up  Dathan  : 
and  covered  tlie  congref]jation  of  Abirani. 

18  And  the  fire  was  kindled  in  their  company  :  the 
Hanie  burnt  up  the  un<,'odly. 

19  They  made  a  calf  in  Horeb  :  and  worshipped  the 
molten  image. 

20  Thus  they  turned  their  glory  :  into  the  similitude 
of  a  calf  that  eateth  hay. 

21  And  they  forgat  God  their  Sa\iour  :  who  had 
done  so  great  things  in  Egypt ; 

22  ^Yondrous  woi'ks  in  the  land  of  Ham  :  and  fearful 
tilings  by  the  Red  sea. 

23  So  he  said,  he  would  have  destroyed  them,  had 
not  Moses  his  chosen  stood  before  hun  in  the  gap  :  to 
turn  away  his  wrathful  indignation,  lest  he  should 
destroy  them. 

24  Yea,  they  thought  scorn  of  that  pleasant  land  : 
and  gave  no  credence  unto  his  word  ; 

25  But  murmured  in  their  tents  :  and  hearkened 
not  unto  the  voice  of  the  Lord. 

26  Then  lift  he  up  his  hand  against  them  :  to  over- 
throw them  in  the  wilderness  ; 

27  To  cast  out  their  seed  among  the  nations  :  and  to 
scatter  them  in  the  lands. 

28  The}-  joined  themselves  unto  Baal-peor  :  and  ate 
the  otfermgs  of  the  dead. 

29  Thus  they  provoked  him  to  anger  -with  their  own 
inventions  :  and  the  plague  was  great  among  them. 

30  Then  stood  up  Phinees  and  prayed  :  and  so  the 
plague  ceased. 

31  And  that  was  counted  unto  him  for  righteous- 
ness :  among  all  posterities  for  evermore. 

32  The}'  angered  him  also  at  the  waters  of  strife  :  so 
that  he  punished  Moses  for  their  sakes ; 

33  Because  the}'  provoked  his  spirit  :  so  that  he 
spake  unadvisedly  with  his  lips. 

34  Neither  destroyed  they  the  heathen  ;  as  the  Lord 
commanded  them ; 

35  But  were  mingled  among  the  heathen  :  and 
learned  their  works. 

36  Insomuch  that  the}'  worshipped  their  idols,  which 
turned  to  their  own  decay  :  yea,  they  offered  their  sons 
and  their  daughters  unto  devils  ; 

161  M 


Day  2.x  PSALM  C VI  Evening  Prayer 

2,7  And  shed  innocent  blood,  even  the  blood  of  their 
sons  and  of  their  daughters  :  whom  they  offered  unto 
the  idols  of  Canaan ;  and  the  land  was  defiled  with 
blood. 

38  Thus  were  they  stained  with  their  own  works  : 
and  went  a  whoring  with  their  own  inventions. 

39  Therefore  was  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  kindled 
against  his  people  :  insomuch  that  he  abhorred  his  own 
inheritance. 

40  And  he  gave  them  over  into  the  hand  of  the 
heathen  :  and  they  that  hated  them  were  lords  over 
them. 

41  Their  enemies  oppressed  them  :  and  had  them  in 
subjection. 

42  Many  a  time  did  he  deliver  them  :  but  they 
rebelled  against  him  with  their  own  inventions,  and 
were  brought  down  in  their  wickedness. 

43  Nevertheless,  when  he  saw  their  adversity  :  he 
heard  their  complaint. 

44  He  thought  upon  his  covenant,  and  pitied  them, 
according  unto  the  multitude  of  his  mercies  :  yea,  he 
made  all  those  that  led  them  away  captive  to  pity 
them. 

45  Deliver  us,  O  Lord  our  God,  and  gather  us  from 
among  the  heathen  :  that  we  may  give  thanks  unto  thy 
holy  Name,  and  make  our  boast  of  thy  praise. 

46  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  from  ever- 
lasting, and  world  without  end  :  and  let  all  the  people 
say,  Amen. 

Fox  tells  us  that  William  but  Bishop  Haro,  Theocritean 
Wolsey,  a  constable,  and  Thomas  Edwards,  George  Fen- 
Robert  Pygot,  a  painter,  were  wick,  and  Bishop  George 
burnt  at  Ely  (October,  1555)  Home  of  Norwich,  were  among 
for  Protestantism.  They  died  the  chief.  Doddridge  gives  the 
reciting  Psalm  cvi.,  and  clasp-  palm  of  metrical  translations  to 
ing  New  Testaments  to  their  James  Merrick,  Fellow  of 
breasts.  Trinity     College,      Oxford — a 

It  is  a  curious  thing  to  notice  man  very  hard  to  admire, 
how  many  commentators  there         Verse     11.       The     Utrecht 

were    on    the    Psalter   in    the  Psalter,    that    most  interesting 

eighteenth    century.      Zachary  and  puzzling  manuscript,  which 

Mudge   (Dr.    Johnson's  friend  the  critics  assign  alternately  to 

and         Reynolds'         admired  each  of  the  centuries  from  the 

"study  ")  was  the  first  leader  ;  fourth  to  the  ninth,  has  spirited 

162 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  C VII  Day  23 

illustrations  of  this   verse,  and  the     translations     whicli     the 

some  others  in  this  psHJm  and  Puritans  so  inveighed  again'st 

the  next  one.     The  Red  Sea  is  at  the  Hampton  Court  Confer- 

overwhelming   the    Egyptians ;  ence.     Dr.  Reynolds  proposed 

there  are  ploughmen  at  work,  "  executed  judgement,"  but  the 

felons  in  the  stocks,  vinedressers  words    were    retained     in    the 

and  planters,  men  going  down  Prayer-Book,  though  altered  in 

to  the  sea  in  the  queerest  ships,  the  Bible. 

and     others    building     cities.  I'crse  ■^9.    This  is  the  second 

There  are   also,  among   other  motto  of  Father  Parsons'  work 

delights,      two      great     chairs  on    the    English    persecution, 

which  are  the  seats  of  the  elders  and  summed  up  the  Romanist 

(Ps.  cvii.  verse  32).  charge   against  our   people  of 

Verse  30.     '1  his  was  one  of  "will-worship." 

f. a  tins. — Saturday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Thursday  evening. 


PSALM  CVII.     Confiteniiiii  Domino. 

OGIVE  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is  gracious  : 
and  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

2  Let  tliem  give  thanks  whom  the  Lord  hatli  re- 
deemed :  and  delivered  from  the  hand  of  tlie  enemy  ; 

3  And  gatliered  them  out  of  the  lands,  from  the 
east,  and  from  the  west  :  from  the  north,  and  from  the 
south. 

4  They  went  astray  in  the  wilderness  out  of  the 
way  :  and  found  no  city  to  dwell  in  ; 

5  Hungry  and  thirsty  :  their  soul  fainted  in  them. 

6  So  they  cried  unto  the  Lord  in  their  trouble  :  and 
he  delivered  them  from  their  distress. 

7  He  led  them  forth  by  the  right  ^\ay  :  that  they 
might  go  to  the  city  where  they  dwelt. 

8  O  that  men  would  therefore  praise  the  Lord  for 
his  goodness  :  and  declare  the  wonders  that  he  doeth 
for  the  children  of  men. 

9  For  he  satisfieth  the  empty  soul  :  and  iilleth  the 
hungry  soul  with  goodness. 

10  Such  as  sit  in  darkness,  and  in  the  shadow  of 
death  :  being  fast  bound  in  misery  and  iron  ; 

1 1  Because  they  rebelled  against  the  words  of  the 
Loi-d  :  and  lightly  regarded  the  counsel  of  the  most 
Highest ; 

163 


Day  22  PSALM  C VI I  Morning  Prayer 

1 2  He  also  brought  down  their  heart  through  hea^d- 
ness  :  they  fell  down,  and  there  was  none  to  help  them. 

1 3  So  when  they  cried  unto  the  Lord  in  then  trouble  : 
he  delivered  them  out  of  their  distress. 

14  For  he  brought  them  out  of  darkness,  and  out 
of  tlie  shadow  of  death  :  and  brake  their  bonds  in  sunder. 

1 5  O  that  men  would  therefore  praise  the  Lord  for 
his  goodness  :  and  declare  the  wonders  that  he  doeth 
for  the  children  of  men ! 

16  For  he  hath  broken  the  gates  of  brass  :  and 
smitten  the  bars  of  iron  in  sunder. 

17  Foolish  men  are  plagued  for  their  offence  :  and 
because  of  their  wickedness. 

18  Their  soul  abhorred  all  manner  of  meat  :  and 
they  were  even  hard  at  death's  door. 

19  So  when  they  cried  unto  the  Lord  in  their 
trouble  :  he  delivered  them  out  of  their  distress. 

20  He  sent  his  word,  and  healed  them  :  and  they 
were  saved  from  their  destruction. 

21  O  that  men  would  therefore  praise  the  Lord  for 
his  goodness  :  and  declare  the  wonders  that  he  doeth 
for  the  children  of  men  ! 

22  That  they  would  offer  unto  him  the  sacrifice  of 
thanksgiving  :  and  tell  out  his  works  with  gladness ! 

23  They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships  :  and 
occupy  their  business  in  great  waters  ; 

24  These  men  see  the  works  of  the  Lord  :  and  his 
wonders  in  the  deep. 

25  For  at  his  word  the  stormy  wind  ariseth  :  which 
lifteth  up  the  waves  thereof. 

26  They  are  carried  up  to  the  heaven,  and  down 
again  to  the  deep  :  their  soul  melteth  away  because  of 
the  trouble. 

27  They  reel  to  and  fro,  and  stagger  like  a  drunken 
man  :  and  are  at  their  wit's  end. 

28  So  when  they  cry  unto  the  Lord  in  their  trouble  : 
he  delivereth  them  out  of  their  distress. 

29  For  he  maketh  the  storm  to  cease  :  so  that  the 
waves  thereof  are  still. 

30  Then  are  they  glad,  because  they  are  at  rest  : 
and  so  he  bringeth  them  unto  the  haven  where  they 
would  be. 

164 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  CVII  Day  22 

31  0  that  men  would  therefore  praise  the  Lord  for 
liis  p^oodness  :  and  dechxre  the  wonders  that  he  doeth 
for  the  chikh-en  of  men  I 

32  That  they  would  exalt  him  also  in  the  congre- 
gation of  the  people  :  and  praise  him  in  the  seat  of  the 
elders ! 

33  "Who  turneth  the  floods  into  a  wilderness  :  and 
drieth  up  the  water-springs. 

34  A  fruitful  land  maketh  he  barren  :  for  the  wicked- 
ness of  them  that  dwell  therein. 

35  Again,  he  maketh  the  wilderness  a  standuig 
water  :  and  water-springs  of  a  dry  ground. 

36  And  there  he  setteth  the  hungry  :  that  they  may 
build  them  a  city  to  dwell  in  ; 

37  That  they  may  sow  their  land,  and  plant  vine- 
yards :  to  yield  them  fruits  of  increase. 

38  He  blesseth  them,  so  that  they  multiply  exceed- 
ingly :  and  suffereth  not  their  cattle  to  decrease. 

39  And  again,  when  they  are  minished,  and  brought 
low  :  through  oppression,  through  anj^  plague  or 
trouble ; 

40  Though  he  suffer  them  to  be  evil  treated  through 
t^i'ants  :  and  let  them  wander  out  of  the  way  in  the 
wilderness  ; 

41  Yet  helpeth  he  the  poor  out  of  misery  :  and 
maketh  him  households  like  a  flock  of  sheep. 

43  The  righteous  will  consider  this,  and  rejoice  :  and 
the  mouth  of  all  wickedness  shall  be  stopped. 

43  Whoso  is  wise  will  ponder  these  things  :  and  they 
shall  understand  the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord. 

This  was  the  favourite  psalm  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for 

of  William  Romaine,  the  Rec-  His  goodness  1"      Thus,  these 

tor  of  St.   .Ann's,    Blackfriars,  verses  may  be  said  to  be  what 

and   of    his    friend    (and    Dr.  war,  regarded    in   the   ages   of 

Johnson's    acquaintance),    Dr.  sorrow  as  the  epitome  of  the 

Benjamin  Wheeler,  the  profes-  whole  Psalter,  viz.,  its  tone  of 

sor  of  poetry  at  Oxford.  triumph  Hnd  thanksgiving. 

Verses  i-^  and  16.   In  the  har-  Verse  yi.     This  was  quoted 

rowing  of  Hell  (z'Zi/tr  Ps.  xxiv.),  by  "Little  Bilney,"  Latimer's 

the  divine  prophet  David  cries  teacher,    on    his    way   to    the 

aloud    in  the  darkness,    "  Did  stake.      It  is  the  epitaph  set  up 

not   I   truly  prophesy,  while  I  in  Beechey  Island  for  Sir  John 

was   on   earth,  saying,  O  that  Franklin  and  his  companions. 

165 


Day  22  PSALM  evil  I  Evemug  Prayer 

Verse  42.  Gaufridus,  St.  Ber-  the  awe  of  the  wicked,  that  this 
nard's  secretary,  and  the  author  verse  seemed  aptly  made  for 
of  that  saint's  life,  with  these  him,  for  in  his  presence  holi- 
words  sums  up  his  master's  ness  wholly  rejoiced,  froward- 
earthly  life  :  "  For  he  was  both  ness  was  curbed,  and  hardness 
tlie  glory  of  all  the  good  and     grew  penitent." 

Liturgical  use. — Thanksgiving  after  a  Storm  at  Sea. 

Latins. — Saturday  Matins. 

Greeks. — Thursday  morning. 


PSALM  CYIII.     Paratum  cor  meum. 

OGOD,  my  heart  is  ready,  my  heart  is  ready  :  I 
will  sing  and  give  praise  with  the  best  member 
that  I  have. 

2  Awake,  thou  lute,  smd  harp  :  I  myself  will  awake 
right  early. 

3  I  will  give  thanks  unto  thee,  0  Lord,  among  the 
people  :  I  will  sing  praises  unto  thee  among  the  nations. 

4  For  thy  mercy  is  greater  tlian  the  heavens  :  and 
thy  truth  reacheth  unto  the  clouds. 

5  Set  up  thyself,  O  God,  above  the  heavens  :  and  thy 
glory  above  all  the  earth. 

6  That  thy  beloved  may  be  dehvered  :  let  thy  right 
hand  save  them,  and  hear  thou  me. 

7  God  hath  spoken  in  his  holiness  :  I  will  rejoice 
therefore,  and  divide  Sichem,  and  mete  out  the  valley 
of  Succoth. 

8  Gilead  is  mine,  and  ^lauasses  is  mine  :  Ephraim 
:xlso  is  the  strength  of  my  head. 

9  Judah  is  my  law-giver,  ]\Ioab  is  my  wash-pot  : 
over  Edom  will  I  cast  out  my  shoe ;  over  Philistia  will 
I  triumph. 

10  "\Mio  will  lead  me  into  the  strong  city  :  and  who 
will  bring  me  into  Edom  ? 

1 1  Hast  not  thou  forsaken  us,  0  God  :  and  wilt  not 
thou.  0  God,  go  forth  with  our  hosts  ? 

1 2  O  help  us  agamst  the  enemy  :  for  vain  is  the  help 
of  man. 

13  Through  God  we  shall  do  great  acts  :  and  it  is  he 
that  shall  tread  down  our  enemies. 

This  psalm  was  a  favourite  Christopher  Hatton,  the  good 
with  that  "person  highly  friend  both  to  Dugdale  and  to 
affected     to    antiquities,"     Sir    Jeremy  Taylor.     He  calls  it  in 

l66 


Evening  Prayer  I'SALM  CIX  Dtiy  2Z 

his  Psalter  "A  prayer  for  victory  which  he  suffered  in  a  high 
agiiinst  our  I'^nemies."  He  was  degree."  ("harles  II.,  "  in  con- 
controller  of  Charles  l.'s  house-  sideration  of  his  vast  sufferings 
hold,  "  being  then  accounted  a  and  eminent  Loyalty,"  made 
friend  of  all  that  loved  the  King  him  Privy  Councillor  and 
and   Church   of    England,    for  Governour  of  Guernsey. 

Liturgical  use. — Ascension  Day  evening. 
Z.a//«i. —Saturday  Matins. 
Greeks. — Thursday  evening. 


PSALM  CIX.     Deu&  laudum. 

HOLD  not  thy  tongue,  0  God  of  my  praise  :  for  the 
mouth  of  the  imgodly,  yea,  the  mouth  of  the 
deceitful  is  opened  upon  me. 

2  And  they  have  spoken  against  me  with  false 
tongues  :  they  compassed  me  about  also  with  words 
of  hati-ed,  and  fought  against  me  without  a  cause. 

3  For  the  love  that  I  had  unto  them,  lo,  they  take 
now  my  contrary  part  :  but  I  give  myself  unto  prayer. 

4  Thus  have  they  rewarded  me  evil  for  good  :  and 
liatred  for  my  good  will. 

5  "  Set  thou  an  ungodly  man  to  be  ruler  over  him  : 
and  let  Satan  stand  at  his  right  hand. 

6  "  When  sentence  is  given  upon  him,  let  him  be 
condemned  :  and  let  his  prayer  be  turned  into  sin. 

7  "  Let  his  days  be  few  :  and  let  another  take  his 
oflice. 

8  "  Let  his  cliildren  be  fatherless  :  and  his  wife  a 
widow. 

9  "  Let  his  children  be  vagabonds,  and  beg  their 
bread  :  let  them  seek  it  also  out  of  desolate  places. 

10  "  Let  the  extortioner  consume  all  that  he  hath  : 
and  let  the  stranger  spoil  his  labour. 

11  "  Let  there  be  no  man  to  pity  him  :  nor  to  have 
compassion  upon  his  fatherless  children. 

12  "  Let  his  posterity  be  destroyed  :  and  in  the  next 
generation  let  his  name  be  clean  put  out. 

13  "  Let  the  wickedness  of  his  fathers  be  had  in  re- 
membrance in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  :  and  let  not  the 
sin  of  his  mother  be  done  away. 

14  "  Let  them  alway  be  before  the  Lord  :  that  he  may 
root  out  the  memorial  of  them  from  off  the  earth ; 

167 


Ekiyi'^  PSALM  CI  X  Evening  Prayer 

15  "  And  that,  because  his  mind  was  not  to  do  good  : 
but  persecuted  the  poor  helpless  man,  that  he  might 
slay  him  that  was  vexed  at  the  heart. 

16  "  His  delight  was  in  cursing,  and  it  shall  happeii^ 
unto  him  :  he  loved  not  blessing,  therefore  shall  it  b3. 
far  from  him, 

17  "  He  clothed  himself  with  cursing,  like  as  with  a 
raiment  :  and  it  shall  come  into  his  bowels  like  water, 
and  like  oil  into  his  bones. 

18  "  Let  it  be  unto  him  as  the  cloke  that  he  hath  upon 
him  :  and  as  the  girdle  that  he  is  alway  girded  withal." 

19  Let  it  thus  happen  from  the  Lord  unto  mine 
enemies  :  and  to  those  that  speak  evil  against  my  soul. 

20  But  deal  thou  with  me,  0  Lord  God,  according 
unto  thy  Name  :  for  sweet  is  thy  mere}'. 

21  0  deliver  me,  for  I  am  helpless  and  poor  :  and  my 
heart  is  wounded  within  me. 

22  I  go  hence  like  the  shadow  that  departeth  :  and 
am  driven  away  as  the  grasshopper. 

23  My  knees  are  weak  through  fasting  :  my  flesh  is 
dried  up  for  want  of  fatness. 

24  I  became  also  a  reproach  unto  them  :  they  that 
looked  upon  me  shaked  their  heads. 

25  Help  me,  O  Lord  my  God  :  save  me,  according  to 
thy  mercy ; 

26  And  they  shall  know,  how  that  this  is  thy  hand  : 
and  that  thou.  Lord,  hast  done  it. 

27  Though  they  curse,  yet  bless  thou  :  and  let  them 
be  confounded  that  rise  up  against  me ;  but  let  thy 
servant  rejoice. 

28  Let  mine  adversaries  be  clothed  with  shame  :  and 
let  them  cover  themselves  with  their  own  confusion,  as 
with  a  cloke. 

29  As  for  me,  I  will  give  great  thanks  unto  the  Lord 
with  my  mouth  :  and  praise  him  among  the  multitude  ; 

30  For  he  shall  stand  at  the  right  hand  of  the  poor  : 
to  save  his  soul  from  unrighteous  judges. 

Fuller    quaintly    glances    at  F2ngland").     "Lord,   when  in 

the  seventeenth-century  uses  of  my  daily  sehvice  I  read  David's 

this  psalm,  and  at  those  who  psalms,  give    me   to  alter   the 

cited    it    copiously    to    justify  accent  of  my  soul  according  to 

their    own     deeds    and     spirit  their  several  subjects.     In  such 

\cf.  Milton's  "  Reformation  in  psalms,   wherein  he  confesseth 

168 


Morning  Prayer 


PSALM  CX 


Day  23' 


his  sins  or  requesteth  thy 
pardon,  or  praiseih  for  former, 
or  prayeth  for  future  favours, 
in  all  these  give  me  to  raise  my 
soul  to  as  high  a  pitch  as  may 
be.  But  when  I  come  to  such 
psalms  wherein  he  curseth  his 
enemies,  O  tliere  let  me  bring 
down  my  soul  to  a  lower  note. 
For  those  words  were  made 
only  to  fit  David's  mouth.  I 
have  the  like  breath,  but  not  the 
same  spirit  to  pronounce  them. 
Nor  let  me  flatter  myself  that 
it  is  lawful  for  me,  with  David, 

Latins. — Saturday 
Greeks. — Last  psal 


to  curse  thine  enemies,  lest  my- 
deceitful  heart  entitle  all  mine 
enemies  to  be  thine,  and  so' 
what  was  religion  in  David 
prove  malice  in  me,  whilst  I 
act  revenge  under  pretence  of 
piety." 

Verse  19.  The  Hebrew,  Greek 
and  I^atin  all  give  a  better 
sense  to  this  verse.  "This  is 
the  reward."  The  LXX.  and 
Vulgate  say,  "  This  is  the  work 
of  those  who  slander  me  to  the 
Lord,"  which  alters  the  whole 
character  of  the  psalm. 

Matins, 
m  on  Thursday  evening. 


PSALM  CX.     Dixit  Dommm. 

rpHE  Lord  said  unto  luy  Lord  :  "Sit  thou  on  my  right 
I       hand,  until  I  make  thine  enemies  thy  footstooh" 

2  The  Lord  shaU  send  the  rod  of  thy  power  out  of 
Sion  :  "be  thou  ruler,  even  in  the  midst  among  thine 
enemies." 

3  In  the  day  of  thy  power  shall  the  people  offer  thee 
free-will  offerings  with  an  holy  worship  :  the  dew  of 
thy  birth  is  of  the  womb  of  the  morning. 

4  The  Lord  sware,  and  will  not  repent  :  "  Thou  art 
a  Priest  for  ever  after  the  order  of  Melchisedech." 

5  The  Lord  upon  thy  right  hand  :  shall  wound  even 
kings  in  the  day  of  his  wrath. 

6  He  shall  judge  among  the  heathen ;  he  shall  fill 
the  places  with  the  dead  bodies  :  and  smite  in  sunder 
the  heads  over  divers  countries. 

7  He  shall  drink  of  the  brook  in  the  way  :  therefore 
shall  he  lift  up  his  head. 


This  is  one  of  the  psalms 
quoted  by  Christ  Himself  (St. 
Matt.  xxii.  43).  The  Talmud- 
ists  assign  the  psalm  to  Mel- 
chizedeck. 

This  psalm  has  been  a  great 
favourite  always  in  the  Western 


Church.  It  is  an  introit  for  St. 
Agnes,  and  she  was  perhaps 
the  best-loved  Virgin  Martyr. 
It  was  also  popular  with  the 
Arians,  who  used  it  against  St. 
Athanasius.  The  storm  which 
arose  lately,  about  Lux  Mundi 


169 


Day  23  PSALM  CXI  Morning  Prayer 

raged    most    fiercely    in    con-  dred  and  eight  translations  into 

troversies    connected   with    its  English  are  recorded.    The  line 

origin.  Teste  David  et  Sibilla  perhaps 

Verse  5.    This,    perhaps,    is  refers  to  this  verse, 

one  of  the  passages  alluded  to  Verse  7.    A  common  Easter 

in     that     most     wonderful    of  Day  text  in  mediasval  sermons, 

hymns,  Dies  irce,  by  Thomas  the  brook  being   the  River  of 

of  Celano,  of  which  some  hun-  Death. 

Liturgical  use. — Christmas  Day  evening. 

Latins. — Sunday  Vespers  ;  Christmas  ;  Circumcision  ;  Epiph- 
any ;  Easter  Day  ;  .Apostles  and  Evangelists  ;  Martyrs  ; 
Dedication  of  a  church ;  Feasts  of  Our  Lady  ;  St. 
Michael  and  All  Angels  ;  All  Saints. 

Greeks. — Saturday  Matins. 


PSALM  CXI.     Confitebor  tibi 

I  WILL  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  with  my  whole 
heart  :  secretly  among  the  faithful,  and  in   the 
congregation. 

2  The  works  of  the  Lord  are  great  :  sought  out  of 
all  them  that  have  pleasure  therein. 

3  His  work  is  worthy  to  be  praised,  and  had  in 
honour  :  and  his  righteousness  endureth  for  ever. 

4  The  merciful  and  gracious  Lord  hath  so  done  his 
marvellous  works  :  that  they  ought  to  be  had  in  re- 
membrance. 

5  He  hath  given  meat  unto  them  that  fear  him  :  he 
shall  ever  be  mindful  of  his  covenant. 

6  He  hath  shewed  his  people  the  power  of  his  works  : 
that  he  may  give  them  the  heritage  of  the  heathen. 

7  The  works  of  his  hands  are  verity  and  judgement  : 
all  his  connuandments  are  true. 

8  They  stand  fast  for  ever  and  ever  :  and  are  done 
in  truth  and  equity. 

9  He  sent  redemption  unto  his  people  :  he  hath  com- 
manded his  covenant  for  ever  ;  holy  and  reverend  is 
his  Name. 

10  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beguming  of  wisdom  : 
a  good  understanding  have  all  they  that  do  thereafter  ; 
the  praise  of  it  endureth  for  ever. 

This    psalm    is    one   of  the    are  Pss.  ex. ,  cxvi.  from  verse  to, 
great  Eucharistic  psalms  of  the    cxxviii.,  and  cxlvii. 
Western  Church.     The  others         Verses  4  and  5.     The  daunt- 

170 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  CXI  I  Day^i 

less    statesman     and    devout  been  accomplished  by  her  wiser 

monk,   St.   Dunstan,  not  least  rulers. 

among  the  makers  of  England,         Verse  lo.   In  the  Beauchamp 

died  with  these  words  on  his  Tower  is  written  this  legend, 

lips  in  A.D.   989.      When   St.  by  a  "naked   and   torn"   pri- 

Dunstan's    strong     force    was  soner  who  was  once  emissary 

withdrawn,  a  deluge  of  misery  of  the  Queen  of  Scots  :  Princi- 

fell  upon  England.      Ethelred's  piiim  sapieniicB  timor  Domini 

weakness   and   the  Danish  in-  I.  H.  S.  X.  P.  S.     Be  frend  to 

vasions  seemed  for  a  time  to  one,    be     ennemye    to    none, 

undo  all  the  good  that  had  ever  Anno  D.  1571." 

Liturgical  use. — Easter  Matins. 

Latins. — Sunday  Vespers  ;    Christmas  ;    Epiphany  ;    Easter  ; 

Corpus  Christi ;  ^iarlyrs  ;  Dedication  Feast  ;  St.  Michael  ; 

All  Saints. 
Greeks. — Saturday  Matins. 


PSALM  CXir.     Beatus  vir. 

BLESSED  is  the  man  that  feareth  the  Lord  :  he 
hath  gi'eat  dehght  in  his  commandments. 

2  His  seed  shall  be  mighty  upon  earth  :  the  genera- 
tion of  the  faithful  shall  he  blessed. 

3  Riches  and  plenteousness  sha'll  be  in  his  house  : 
and  his  righteousness  endureth  for  ever. 

4  Unto  the  godly  there  ariseth  up  light  in  the  dark- 
ness :  he  is  merciful,  lo\'ing,  and  righteous. 

5  A  good  man  is  merciful,  and  lendeth  :  and  will 
guide  his  words  with  discretion. 

6  For  he  shall  never  be  moved  :  and  the  righteous 
shall  be  had  in  everlasting  remembrance. 

7  He  will  not  be  afraid  of  any  evil  tidings  :  for  his 
heart  standeth  fast,  and  believeth  in  the  Lord. 

8  His  heart  is  established,  and  will  not  shrink  :  until 
he  see  his  desire  upon  his  enemies. 

9  He  hath  dispersed  abroad,  and  given  to  the  poor  : 
and  his  righteousness  remaineth  for  ever ;  his  horn 
shall  be  exalted  with  honour. 

10  The  ungodly  shall  see  it,  and  it  shall  grieve  him  : 
he  shall  gnash  with  his  teeth,  and  consume  away  ;  the 
desire  of  the  ungodly  shall  perish. 

Piers  Ploughman  tells  us  that  cite  his  Be.itus  vir.  The  fifth 
Sloth  knows  better  how  to  find  verse  is  his  antidote  to  avarice, 
a  hare  in  the  furrow  than  to  re-         Verse  4.  The  motto  in  Lyra 

171 


Day -zy  PSALM  CXIII  Morning  Prayer- 

Apostolica    chosen     by     John  was  so  impressed  with  the  force 

Henry    Newman    for    "Lead,  of  this  verse  that  he  gave  away' 

kindly  Light."  everything  he  possesse  I  to  the- 

Verse  6.     "  The  just  shall  be  poor,    so   that   when   he    died 

had    in     everlasting     remem-  he  left  not  a  halfpenny  behind 

brance."     This  was  the  motto  him.     It  is  a  verse  often  used 

Dean    Stanley    chose    for    his  on  saints' days,  but  to  none  does 

funeral     sermon     on     George  it  better  apply  than  to  St.  Anno. 

Grote,    whom    he    pi-aised    as  King   Edward    III.   put  the 

the  most  impartial  among  his-  last  words  of  this  verse  on  the 

torians.  English  half-florin,  Exaltabitur 

Fifr,f«9.  St.  Anno, an  eleventh  in  gloria,    thus   recalling    the 

century  Bishop  of  Cologne,  like  whole   verse    to   men   as   they 

many  others  before  and  since,  moved  "  through  busiest  mart." 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  I.  Sunday  after  Easter, 

Low  Sunday  (e). 
Latins. — Sunday   Vespers  ;    Christmas  ;   Epiphany  ;   Easter  ; 

Martyrs  ;  Dedication  Feast  ;  St.  Michael  ;  All  Saints. 
Greeks. — Saturday  Matins. 

PSALM  CXIII.     Laudate,  pueri 

PKAISE  the  Lord,  ye  servants  :  0  praise  the  Name 
of  the  Lord. 

2  Blessed  be  the  Name  of  the  Lord  :  from  this  time 
forth  for  evermore. 

3  The  Lord's  Name  is  praised  :  from  the  rising  up 
of  tlie  sun  unto  the  going  down  of  the  same. 

4  The  Lord  is  high  above  all  heathen  :  and  his  glory 
above  the  heavens. 

5  Who  is  like  unto  the  Lord  our  God,  that  hath  his 
dwelling  so  high  :  and  yet  humbleth  himself  to  behold 
the  things  that  are  in  heaven  and  earth  ? 

6  He  taketh  up  the  simple  out  of  the  dust  :  and 
lifteth  the  poor  out  of  the  mire  ; 

7  That  he  may  set  him  with  the  princes  :  even  with 
the  princes  of  his  people. 

S  He  maketh  the  barren  woman  to  keep  house  :  and 
to  be  a  joyful  naother  of  children. 

This  psalm  begins  the  Hallel,  sung,  and  Ps.  cxviii  at  the  end 

sung  at  the   Jewish   Passover,  of  the  rite. 
This  and  the   ne.vt  were  sung        A    favourite    psalm    of    the 

before  the  discourse.    Then  the  Ven.    Bede,    whose  version   of 

cup  was  blessed,  and    Psalms  it,  Laudate  Altithronum,  was 

cxv.,   c.wi. ,    and   cxvii. ,    were  sung  for  many  ages. 

172 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  CXIV  Day  2;^ 

This  was  the  last  ps;ilm  read  as  it  were,  and  rallying  cry  of 
to  Wordsworlli  the  poet,  who  so  many  Japanese  martyrs  "  ; 
used  to  heir  or  read  regularly  but  the  singer's  voice  "faltered 
the  daily  psalms.  He  died  on  in  the  mediation  of  that  verse, 
October  23,  1850.  'That    He   may  set  him  with 

In    the    persecution   of    the     princes,'   and    the    last   clause 
Church  in  Western  Japan,  1624,     was  sung,  if  sung  at  all,  among 
four  martyrs  were  being  burned     the  true  '  Princes  of  the  People ' 
— three    men    and   a    woman,     in  Heaven." 
They   were    concealed   by  the  Verse  3.     A  solis  ortu  usque 

smoke,  when  "  out  of  tlie  midst  ad  oecas/an—lhe  graveyard 
of  the  fire  rose  that  psalm  dial  motto  on  tlie  wall  ot  St. 
Laudate,pueri,  the  watchword,     Gervais,  Savo)'. 

Liturgical  use. — Easter  Day  evening  ;  Introit  to  the  Easter 

Tuesday  Mass,  and  of  St.  Michael  and  all  Angels  (e). 
Latins. — Sunday  Vespers  ;  Christmas  ;  Circumcision;  Epiph- 
any ;  Easter  ;  Apostles  and  Evangelists  ;  Martyrs  ;  Dedi- 
cation  Festival ;   Feast  of  Our  Lady  ;    St.   Michael ;  All 
Saints  ;   Burial  of  Children. 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  Mesorion  of  Ninth  hour. 


PSALM  CXIV.     In  exitu  Israel. 

WHEN  Israel  came  out  of  Egypt  :  and  the  house 
of  Jacob  from  among  the  strange  people, 

2  Judah  was  his  sanctuary  :  and  Israel  his  dominion. 

3  The  sea  saw  that,  and  fled  :  Jordan  was  driven 
back. 

4  The  mountains  skipped  like  rams  :  and  the  little 
hiUs  like  young  sheep. 

5  What  aileth  thee,  O  thou  sea,  that  thou  fleddest  : 
and  thou  Jordan,  that  thou  wast  driven  back  ? 

6  Ye  mountains,  that  ye  skipped  like  rams  :  and  ye 
little  hills,  like  young  sheep  ? 

7  Tremble,  thou  earth,  at  the  presence  of  the  Lord  : 
at  the  presence  of  the  God  of  Jacob  ; 

8  Who  turned  the  hard  rock  into  a  standing  water  : 
and  the  flint-stone  into  a  springing  well. 

This    psalm    and    the    next  Apostate,     a     certain      yoimg 

form  one  in  the  Vulgate.  Christian     named    Theodotus 

This  is  in  the  Paschal  Hallel,  was  racked   for   the  faith  and 

and  was  therefore  sung  at  the  defied     his    tormentors.       He 

l^st  Supper.  chanted,   the  whole  time,  this 

In  the   reign    of  Julian   the  psalm,  as   if  he   felt  no  pain. 

173 


Day,  22                               PSALM  CXV  Evening  Prayer 

When  the  torture  was  over  he  Peregrinus   was   probably   the 

told  his  friends  that  as  he  was  tune  used, 

being  racked  he  beheld  a  man  St.  Francis  Xavier  travelled 

in    white  sprinkling   him   with  through     the    long    desert   of 

water    from    a    vessel,    which  Amanguchi    to   the    Japanese 

eased  his  torments.  city  of  Meaco,  and  found  the 

This    is    the    psalm     which  city  in  a  state  of  siege.      He 

Dante  heard  the  souls  singing  turned    back    again    into    the 

as  they  were  wafted  into  Pur-  dreadful    desert,    singing,    In 

gatory     in    the    angels'    boat  exitii. 

[Purg.  II.).  The  Duke  of  Gandia,  when 

It  was  the  chant  of  triumph  he  joined  the  early  Jesuits,  left 

of  the  victors  at  Bannockburn  all  his  state  and  his  great  castle 

(1314).  of    Gandia,  singing    the  same 

It  was  sung  upon  the  field  of  psalm,  adding,  "  Our  bonds 
Agincourt  (1415),  by  order  of  are  broken  and  we  are  de- 
Henry   v.,    when   the    victory  livered  !" 

was  won.     When  they  reached  Milton,    at    fifteen   years   of 

the  verse  Noii  7iobis  (Ps.  cxv.  age,    turned    this   psalm    into 

in   our   translation)  the   whole  rhymed  verse  (1624). 

host   fell   upon  their   knees  in  It   was  a   favourite    of    Sir 

the    mud,    and    the    wounded  Walter  Scott,  who  also  versi- 

joined  the  song.     The  Tonus  fied  it. 

Liturgical  use. — Easter  Day  Evening. 
Latins. — Sunday  Vespers  ;  Easter. 

Greeks.  — Saturday  morning. 


PSALM  CXV.     Non  nobis,  Domine. 

NOT  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy 
Name  give  the  praise  :  for  thy  loving  mercy,  and 
for  thy  truth's  sake. 

2  Wherefore  shall  the  heathen  say  :  Where  is  now 
their  God  ? 

3  As  for  our  God,  he  is  in  heaven  :  he  hath  done 
whatsoever  pleased  him. 

4  Their  idols  are  silver  and  gold  :  even  the  work  of 
men's  hands. 

5  They  have  mouths,  and  speak  not  :  eyes  liave  they, 
and  see  not. 

6  They  have  ears,  and  hear  not  :  noses  have  they, 
and  smell  not. 

7  They  have  hands,  and  handle  not ;  feet  have  they, 
and  walk  not :  neither  speak  they  through  their  throat. 

8  They  that  make  them  are  like  unto  tliem  :  and  so 
are  all  such  as  put  their  trust  in  thpm. 

174 


Evening  Prayer 


PSALM  CXV 


Day  23 


9  But  thou,  house  of  Israel,  trust  thou  in  the  Lord  : 
he  is  their  succour  and  defence. 

10  Ye  house  of  Aaron,  put  your  trust  in  the  Lord  : 
he  is  their  helper  and  defender. 

1 1  Ye  that  fear  the  Lord,  put  your  trust  in  the 
Lord  :  he  is  their  helper  and  defender. 

12  The  Lord  hath  been  mindful  of  us,  and  he  shall 
bless  us  :  even  he  shall  bless  the  house  of  Israel,  he 
shall  bless  the  house  of  Aaron. 

13  He  shall  bless  them  that  fear  the  Lord  :  both 
small  and  great. 

14  The  Lord  shall  increase  you  more  and  more  :  you 
and  your  children. 

1 5  Y"e  are  the  blessed  of  the  Lord  :  who  made  heaven 
and  earth. 

16  All  the  whole  heavens  are  the  Lord's  :  the  earth 
hath  he  given  to  the  children  of  men. 

17  The  dead  praise  not  thee,  O  Lord  :  neither  all 
they  that  go  down  into  silence. 

18  But  we  will  praise  the  Lord  :  from  this  time  forth 
for  evermore.     Praise  the  Lord. 


Part  of  the  Hallel  of  the  Pass- 
over, and  therefore  sung  by 
our  Lord  at  the  Last  Supper. 
At  the  siege  of  Oran  in  Africa, 
Cardinal  Xinienes,  in  his  ponti- 
ficals, led  the  troops.  He  rode 
on  a  war-horse,  and  his  crosier 
was  carried  before  him  by  a 
monk.  As  the  town  was  taken 
he  advanced  singing  Non  nobis, 
Domine. 

Verse  i.  Henry  IV.  gave  this 
motto  to  his  son,  when  he 
elevaied  him  to  a  share  in  the 
government. 

I'erse  3  played  an  important 
part  in  converting  men  from 
Paganism.  Pontius,  the  Roman 
senator's  son  (257  A.d.  ),  is  one 
instance  out  ot  many.  He 
embraced  the  Cliristian  Faith, 
because  of  the  spiritual  con- 
ception of  God  here  revealed 
to  him. 

I 


Verses  4  and  5  were  used  by 
Publia  against  Julian  the  Apos- 
tate (z'/</6' Ps.  Ixviii. ).  Tiieyseem 
to  have  been  part  of  the  recog- 
nised defiance  of  the  early 
Christian  Martyrs,  when  or- 
dered to  sacrifice  to  Ca;sar  {i.e., 
to  swear  allegiance  to  society). 
Almost  wherever  one  turns  one 
finds  them  thus  used.  Ruinart's 
Acta  Siricera  notes  many  such 
instances,  Petrus  Balsamus 
{311  A.D.)  for  example. 

I  'erse  16.  On  Easter  Tuesday, 
1517,  Dr.  Bell  preached  from 
this  a  Spital  sermon  against 
foreigners  in  London,  and  said, 
"That  as  birds  defend  their 
nestes  so  ought  Englishmen 
to  maintaine  themselves  and  to 
hurt  and  grieue  alians  for  re- 
spect of  their  commonwealth." 
The  result  was  a  serious  riot :  and 
Bell  was  lodged  in  the  Tower. 

75 


Day  2^  PSALM  CXVI  Morning  Prayer 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  Mass  of  St.  Bartholomew  (e). 
Latins. — As  part  of  Psalm  cxiv.  ((/.  v.). 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning. 


PSALM  CXVI.     Dilexi,  quoniam. 

I  AM  well  pleased  :  that  the  Lord  hath  heard  the 
voice  of  my  prayer  ; 

2  That  he  hath  mcliiied  his  ear  unto  me  :  therefore 
will  I  call  upon  him  as  long  as  I  live. 

3  The  snares  of  death  compassed  me  round  about  : 
and  the  pains  of  hell  gat  hold  upon  me. 

4  I  shall  find  trouble  and  heaviness,  and  I  will  call 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  :  "  O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee, 
deliver  my  soul." 

5  Gracious  is  the  Lord,  and  righteous  :  yea,  our  God 
is  merciful. 

6  The  Lord  preserveth  the  simple  :  I  was  in  miser}-, 
and  he  helped  me. 

7  Turn  again  then  unto  thy  rest,  0  my  soul :  for  the 
Lord  hath  rewarded  thee. 

8  And  why  ?  thou  hast  delivered  my  soul  from 
death  :  mine  eyes  from  tears,  and  my  feet  from  falling. 

9  I  will  walk  before  the  Lord  :  in  the  land  of  the 
living. 

10  I  beheved,  and  therefore  will  I  speak  ;  Lut  I 
was  sore  troubled  :  I  said  in  my  haste,  "  All  men  are 
liars." 

1 1  What  reward  shall  I  give  unto  the  Lord  :  for  all 
the  benefits  that  he  hath  done  unto  me  ? 

12  I  will  receive  the  cup  of  salvation  :  and  call  upon 
the  Name  of  the  Lord. 

13  I  will  pay  my  vows  now  in  the  presence  of  all 
his  people  :  riglat  dear  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  tlie 
death  of  his  saints. 

14  Behold,  O  Lord,  how  that  I  am  thy  servant  :  I 
am  thy  servant,  and  the  son  of  thine  handmaid  ;  thou 
hast  broken  my  bonds  in  sunder. 

1 5  I  will  offer  to  thee  the  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving  : 
and  will  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

16  I  will  pay  my  vows  unto  the  Lord,  in  the  sight  of 

176 


Morning  Pravcr 


PSALM  CXVI 


Day  24 


all  his  people  :  in  the  courts  of  the  Lord's  house,  even 
ill  the  midst  of  thee,  0  Jerusalem.     Praise  the  Lord. 


This  is  the  first  psalm  in  the 
Dirge  [vide  Ps.  v.). 

Our  Lord  and  His  Apostles 
sang  this  before  they  went  to 
the  Mount  of  Olives.  It  was 
in  the  second  part  of  the 
Paschal  Hallel,  Psalms  cxvi. 
and  cxvii. 

On  May  10,  1509,  John, 
Bishop  of  Rochester,  preached 
a  most  notable  sermon  at  the 
funeral  of  Henry  VH.,  and 
"perused  the  psalme  [dilexi) 
in  the  persone  of  this  noble 
man."  By  order  of  the  king's 
granddame  it  was  printed  by 
Wynkyn  de  Worde. 

In  1625-31  William  Gouge, 
the  Blackfriars  minister,  wish- 
ing to  give  God  thanl<s  for  tlie 
abatement  of  the  plague,  where- 
of 54,265  persons  had  died  in 
London  and  the  nine  suburbs, 
wrote  a  book  on  this  psalm 
called  the  "Saint's  Sacrifice." 
He  added,  as  additional  reasons 
for  praise,  that  Charles  (II.) 
was  born,  the  Huguenots  were 
tolerated,  the  Dutch  Protes- 
tants had  triumphed,  Gustavus 
Adolphus  had  won  Leipsic,  and 
Protestantism  was  triumphant 
in  Germany. 

Verse  7.  St.  Chrysostom  says 
it  was  an  old  custom  among 
Christians  to  repeat  this  verse 
over  their  dead,  at  funerals. 

Verse  8.  This  is  what  the 
biographer  of  the  learned  Dr. 
Thomas  Jackson  quaintly  calls 
his  "  cygnean  cantion."  He 
was  a  friend  of  Laud,  and 
the  president  of  Corpus  Christi 
College,  O.xford,  till  1640,  and 
died  so  poor  that  he  left  nothing 
but  his  papers. 

Verse  9.   Placebo  Domino  in 


rcgione  vivorum  was  and  is  the 
Latin  antiphon  for  the  funeral 
psalms :  and  this  is  why  so 
iTiany  Jesuits  and  others  re- 
cited it  at  their  death  sentences, 
during  the  Protestant  counter- 
persecutions. 

Verse  11.  It  is  significant  of 
the  mediaeval  reverence  with 
which  men  undertook  their 
work,  that  when  Richard  de 
Bury  finished  his  book  Philo- 
biblon  (January  24,  1345),  he 
wrote  on  the  MSS. ,  Quid  re- 
tribuam  Domino  pro  omnibus 
qua  retribuit  mi  hi  f 

Verses  11  and  12.  These  are 
the  words  the  priest  says  to 
himself  before  he  receives  the 
sacrament  of  Our  Lord's  Blood. 

Verse  12.  Calicem  salutis 
accipiam.  This  is  a  usual 
motto  for  the  Communion 
chalice.  It  was  engraved,  for 
instance,  upon  John  Paston's 
gold  chalice  of  1464. 

Verse  13,  second  part.  The 
Church's  comment  upon  many 
of  her  saints.  These  words 
were  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  Prime, 
and  our  fathers  thus  faced  each 
of  the  days  of  their  life  with 
them.  St.  Bernard  exhorted 
the  Knights  Templars  to  the 
Crusade  with  the  same. 

Verses  14  to  16.  With  these 
words  St.  Augustine  resolved 
upon  the  nevv  life :  and  not  a 
few  of  God's  great  servants 
could  inscribe  Hie  incipit  vita 
nova  as  a  rubric  to  these 
verses. 

I'erse  10  to  end.  De  Thou 
the  younger  (son  of  the  his- 
torian and  composer  of  the 
Edict  of  Nantes),  recited  the 
psalm     Credidi  at    his   execii- 


177 


N 


Day  24  PSALM  CXVIII  Moriiitig  Prayer 

tion,  kneeling  and  shouting  the     fully,  and   paraphrasing   them 
words  aloud  fervently  and  joy-     in  French  [vide  Ps.  cxviii.  21). 

Liturgical  use. — Churching  of  Women,  before  a  Celebration. 
Latins. — (Divide   this    after   9th    verse)  ;    Monday  Vespers  ; 

Apostles  and  Evangelists  ;  Martyrs  ;   All  Saints. 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning. 


PSALM  CXVII.     Laudate  Dominum. 

0  PRAISE  the  Lord,  all  ye  heathen  :  praise  him, 
all  ye  nations. 
2  For  his  merciful  kindness  is  ever  more  and  more 
towards  us  :  and  the  truth  of  the  Lord  endureth  for 
ever.     Pi-aise  the  Lord. 

In  the   second   part   of    the  General "  (Cromwell)  "  made  a 

Paschal    Hallel,  and   therefore  halt    and    sang   Psalm    cxvii., 

sung  at  the  I-ast  Supper.  till  our  horse  could  gather  for 

"  At  the  foot  of  Doon  Hill"  the  chase."  The  Puritans  called 

(after  Dunbar  battle)  "  the  Lord  it  the  Dunbar  psalm. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  of  St.  Matthew  (e). 

Lati?is. — Monday  Vespers  ;  Christmas;  Ascension-tide;  Whit- 
suntide ;  Apostles  and  Evangelists  ;  St.  Michael  and  All 
.\ngete;  All  Saints. 

Greeks. — Saturday  morning;  Evensong. 

PSALM  CXVIII.     Conjitemini  Domino. 

OGIVE  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is  gracious  : 
because  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

2  Let  Israel  now  confess,  that  he  is  gracious  :  and 
that  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

3  Let  the  house  of  Aaron  now  confess  :  that  his 
mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

4  Yea,  let  them  now  that  fear  the  Lord  confess  :  that 
his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

5  I  called  upon  the  Lord  in  trouble  :  and  the  Lord 
heard  me  at  large. 

6  The  Lord  is  on  my  side  :  I  will  not  fear  what  man 
doeth  unto  me. 

7  The  Lord  taketh  m3'part  with  them  that  help  me  : 
therefore  shall  I  see  my  desire  upon  mine  enemies. 

8  It  is  better  to  trust  in  the  Lord  :  than  to  put  any 
confidence  in  man. 

178 


}fornin<r  Prayer  I'SALM  C'.W'III  /An' 24 

9  It  is  better  to  trust  in  the  Lord  :  than  to  put  any 
contidence  in  princes. 

10  All  nations  compassed  me  round  about  :  but  in 
the  Name  of  the  Lord  will  I  destroy  them. 

1 1  They  kept  me  in  on  every  side,  they  kept  me  in, 
I  say,  on  every  side  :  but  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord  will 
I  destro}'  them. 

12  They  came  about  me  like  bees,  and  are  extinct 
even  as  the  fire  among  the  thorns  :  for  in  the  Name  of 
the  Lord  I  will  destroy  them. 

1 3  Thou  hast  thrust  sore  at  me,  that  I  might  fall  :  but 
the  Lord  was  my  help. 

14  The  Lord  is  my  strength,  and  my  song  :  and  is 
become  my  salvation. 

15  The  voice  of  joy  and  health  is  in  the  dwellings  of 
the  righteous  :  the  right  hand  of  the  Lord  bringetli 
mighty  things  to  pass. 

16  The  right  hand  of  the  Lord  hath  the  pre-eminence  : 
the  right  hand  of  the  Lord  bringeth  mighty  things  to 
pass. 

17  I  shall  not  die,  but  live  :  and  declare  the  works 
of  the  Lord. 

1 8  The  Lord  hath  chastened  and  coi'rected  me  :  but 
he  hath  not  given  me  over  unto  death. 

19  "  Open  me  the  gates  of  righteousness  :  that  I  may 
go  into  them,  and  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord." 

20  "  This  is  the  gate  of  the  Lord  :  the  righteous  shall 
enter  into  it." 

21  I  will  thank  thee,  for  thou  hast  heard  me  :  and 
art  become  my  salvation. 

22  The  same  stone  which  the  builders  refused  :  is 
become  the  head-stone  of  the  corner. 

23  This  is  the  Lord's  doing  :  and  it  is  marvellous  in 
our  eyes. 

24  This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord  hath  made  :  we 
will  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  it. 

25  Help  me  now,  O  Lord  :  O  Lord,  send  us  no^\' 
prosperity. 

26  Blessed  be  he  that  cometh  in  the  Name  of  the 
liOrd  :  we  have  wished  you  good  luck,  ye  that  are  of 
the  house  of  the  Lord. 

27  God  is  the  Lord  who  hath  shewed  us  light  :  bind 

179 


Day  24 


PSALM  C XVI II 


Morning  Prayer 


the  sacrifice  with  cords,  yea,  even  unto  the  horns  of 
the  altar. 

28  Thon  art  my  God,  and  I  will  thank  thee  :  thon 
art  my  God,  and  I  will  praise  thee. 

29  O  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is  gracious  : 
and  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

This  psalm  was  the  thanks-  heartened  by  the  words,  "  The 

giving    or    recessional    hymn  Lord   knoweth  them   that   are 

after   the    Passover,    and   was  His,"  the  former,  "with  a  far 

therefore  sung   by  Christ  and  deeper  insight,"  says  Neale,  by 

the  Apostles  at  the  end  of  the  this  verse. 


Last  Supper.  It  is  most  pro- 
bably the  hymn  they  sang  on 
the  way  to  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
and  our  Lord  no  doubt  pre- 
cented  it  by  singing  the  first 
half-verse  alone. 

This  was  Charles  V.'s  favour- 
ite psalm,  as  he  told  Marot. 

Verse  6.  St.  Gordius  sang 
this  verse  under  torture,  with 
Psalm  .xxiii.  ;  and  many  other 
martyrs  with    it  on  their  lips, 


Verse  12.  The  war  cry  of 
the  Huguenots  at  tlie  battle  of 
Coutras,  October  20,  1581, 
when  they  won  their  first  vic- 
tory after  twenty-five  years' 
fighting.  Love  of  the  psalms 
was  traditional  among  these 
men,  for,  in  the  reigns  of 
Francis  I.  and  Henry  II.,  they 
were  gagged  at  the  stake  to 
prevent  them  singing  psalms, 
but  the  fire  often  burnt  the  gags 


by  faith  stopped  the  mouths  of    and  they  chanted  with  charred 


lions,  quenched  the  violence 
of  the  fire,  and  subdued  king- 
doms. 

On  St.  Martin's  journey  into 
Italy,  the  Devil,  in  likeness 
of  a  fellow  traveller,  pointed 
out  to  him  that  he  was  bring- 
ing upon  himself  the  enmity 
of  all  the  lords  of  Hell.  The 
saint  wheeled  round  upon  him 
and  put  him  to  flight  with  this 
verse. 

This  verse  comforted  poor 
William  Cowper,  and  was  his 
"  first  religious  impression," 
when  he  was  a  much-bullied 
little  boy  at  Market  Street 
School,  1737. 

Verse  10.  St.  Bernard  and 
Henry  Martyn  were  each  of 
them  in  his  sickness  troubled 
by  doubts  lest  God  should  not 
recognise  them  amid  such  a 
multitude  of  souls  coming  up 
for  judgment.     The  latter  was 


lips,  this  and  other  favourites. 
It  was  found  safer  to  cut  their 
tongues  out,  before  burning 
them. 

Whitfield  mourned  that  this 
was  his  imprecation  upon  his 
schoolfellows  who  teased  him. 
He  lived  at  the  Bell  Inn  then 
in  Gloucester,  but  had  not  yet 
become  a  tapster  or  an  evan- 
gelist. 

Verse  18.  "  O  Lord  my  God  ! 
such  need  is  there  of  chasten- 
ing and  correcting  with  Thy 
holy  Grace,  that  if  it  please 
Thy  mercy  that  I  may  be 
removed  from  the  turmoil  of 
this  life,  I  have  remained  long 
enough  with  thisarmy."  Bald- 
win, the  crusading  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  was  overheard 
praying  in  these  words,  fifteen 
days  before  he  died  heart- 
broken at  the  coarseness  of  the 
Crusading  army. 


180 


Even  i  11^^  Prayer  PSALM  CXIX  Dayis, 

I'erse  22,-    Queen  Elizabeth's  I'erse   24.     This    is   the   old 

exclamation    when    she    heard  liaster  Antiphon.     It  was  cited 

that   Queen    Waxy   was   dead,  by   "blessed"    William  Tluir- 

and  her   fears   were   removed,  keld  when   sentence   of  death 

She  quoted  the  coin  motto  of  was  passed  upon  liim,  1579. 
the  sovereigns  of  that  time. 

I.itur_i;ical  use. — liastcr  Day  evening. 

Latins. — Sunday  at  Prime;  Commendation  of  the  dying.  ] 

(}reeks.  — Saturday  morning. 


PSALM  CXIX.     Beati  immaculati. 

BLESSED  are  those  that  are  undefiled  in  the  way  : 
ami  walk  in  the  law  of  the  Lord. 

2  Blessed  are  they  that  keep  his  testimonies  :  and 
seek  him  with  their  whole  heart. 

3  For  they  who  do  no  wickedness  :  walk  in  his  ways. 

4  Thou  hast  charged  :  that  we  shall  diligently  keep 
thy  commandments. 

5  O  that  my  ways  were  made  so  direct  :  that  I  might 
keep  thy  statutes  ! 

6  So  shall  I  not  be  confounded  :  while  I  have  respect 
unto  all  thy  commandments. 

7  I  will  thank  thee  with  an  unfeigned  heart  :  when 
I  shall  have  learned  the  judgements  of  thy  righteous- 
ness. 

8  I  will  keep  thy  ceremonies  :  O  forsake  me  not 
utterly. 

Psalm  cxix.  is  said  to  have  glimpses  of  the  Heavenly  Jeru- 

been    composed    for    the    use  salem  on  their  journey, 

of  Jewish  caravans  on  the  way  .\    sick    man,    who    recited 

to  the  feasts  at  Jerusalem,  and  Beati    immaeiilati,    and    said 

the  gradual  psalms  which  im-  Our  Father  six  times,  was,  by 

mediately   follow   it,    were  for  the  English  Canons  of  963  A.  D., 

the  ascent  to  the  Temple.     It  loosed  from  one  day's  fast, 

is  a  beautiful  thought  and  an  One    or    two     writers    have 

allegory,  to  picture  the  devout  thought  this  psalm    to  be  too 

and  dusty  travellers,  when  they  legal   in  its  constant  dwelling 

caught  sight  of  the   Holy  City,  upon   the  idea   of   Duty  ;    but 

breaking    out   into   this    great  Duty   is    the   flywheel   of    the 

song.       It   has   been   used    by  spiritual   machinery.       It    does 

many  travellers  to  the  "  Mother  not    inspire   the   noble   life,  it 

of    us    all,"    the    Urts    Si>n  regulates  it  ;  and  the  psalm  is 

inclyta,  as   they,    too,   caught  for  the  use  of  those  who  have 


Z?,7/24  PSALM  CXIX  Evening  Prayer 

already    received     inspiration         I'erse '-^.    The  motto  of  Pope 

from  the  sight  of  the  City  of     Pius  \ . 

God. 

Liturgical  me. — Introit  to  Mass  for  I.  Sunday  after  Trinity  (e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Prime  ;  Christmas   Prime  ;   Commendation 

of  a  dying  scul ;  Ciiild's  funeral,  on  the  way  to  Church. 
Gi-eeks. — Saturday  morning ;  Daily  Nocturns  ;  Burial  of  lay- 
men, monks,  and  infants  ;  and  also  of  priests. 

In  quo  corriget  ? 

WHEREWITHAL  shall  a  young  man  cleanse  his 
way  :  even  by  ruling  himself  after  thy  word. 

10  AVith  my  whole  heart  have  I  sought  thee  :  O  let 
me  not  go  wrong  out  of  thy  conmiandments. 

1 1  Thy  words  have  I  hid  within  my  heart  :  that  I 
should  not  sin  against  thee. 

12  Blessed   art   thou,  O    Lord    :    O    teach   me   thy 
statutes. 

13  With  my  lips  have  I  been   telling  :  of   all   the 
judgements  of  thy  mouth. 

14  I  have  had  as  great  delight  in  the  way  of  thy 
testimonies  :  as  in  all  manner  of  riches. 

1 5  I  will   talk  of   thy  commandments   :   and  have 
respect  unto  thy  ways. 

16  My  delight  shall  be  in   thy  statutes  :  and  I  will 
not  forget  thy  word. 

Among  the  people  who  learnt  When  Sir  William  Wallace 
this  Psalm  cxix.  by  heart  were  was  hung  and  drawn  at  Smith- 
William  Wilberforce,  the  phil-  field,  he  desired  a  priest  who 
anthropist,  who  found  it  of  was  standing  by  to  take  his 
much  comfort  ;  Mr.  Ruskin,  Psalter,  in  which  he  much  de- 
who  began  by  thinking  it  the  lighted,  and  to  hold  it  before 
most  repulsive,  and  ended  by  his  eyes  ;  which  was  done  until 
thinking  it  the  most  precious,  he  died  under  the  executioner's 
of  all  the  psalms  his  mother  hand.  The  priest  would  be 
taught  him  ;  and  Henry  Mar-  almost  sure  to  open  it  at  the 
tyn,  the  missionary,  who  trans-  Commendatorypsalms  (August 
lated  it,  with  the  rest  of  the  23,  1305). 
Prayer-book,  into  Hindustani. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  Mass  for  H.  Sunday  after  Trinity 

.(e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Prime;  Christmas  Prime;  Commendation 

of  the  dyin^  ;  at  a  child's  funeral,  on  the  way  to  C'hurcl). 
Greeks. — .Saturday  morning;    daily    Nocturns;    all  funerals, 

clerical  and  lay. 

182 


Evening  Prayer  FSALM  CXIX  Day  2^ 

Eetribue  servo  tuo. 

ODO  well  unto  thy  servant  :  that  I  may  live  ainl 
keep  thy  word. 
18  Open   thou    mine   eyes    :    that    I   may   see    the 
wondrous  thinf,'s  of  thy  law. 

iq  I  am  a  stranger  upon  earth  :  O  hide  not  thy  com- 
mandments from  me. 

20  My  soul  breaketh  out  for  the  very  fervent  desire  : 
that  it  hath  alway  unto  thy  judgements. 

21  Thou  hast  rebuked  the  proud  :  and  cursed  are 
the}'  that  do  err  from  thy  commandments. 

22  O  turn  from  me  shame  and  rebuke  :  for  I  have 
kept  thy  testimonies. 

23  Princes  also  did  sit  and  speak  against  me  :  but 
thy  servant  is  occupied  in  thy  statutes. 

24  For  thy  testimonies  are  my  delight  :  and  my 
counsellors. 

Verse  17.  St.  Luxorius's  altar  to  St.  Stephen.  .\mid  an 
verse  (vide  Ix.xxvi.  9).  immense   throng  of  people  he 

Verse  23.  When  St.  Thomas  began  the  Mass  for  St.  Stephen, 
of  Canterbury  c.ime  to  an  open  Etenim  sederunt Friitcifies,\\'\\\\ 
rupture  with  Henry  II.,  and  his  strong  clear  voice.  The 
there  was  an  evident  conspiracy  sobs  and  tears  of  the  worship- 
to  insult  and  perhaps  to  kill  pers  showed  that  they  applied 
him  at  the  .\ssize  of  North-  the  svords  to  their  own  ."^rch- 
ampton,  he  had  to  dedicate  an     bishop  (October  12,  1164). 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  Mass  on  III.  Sunday  after  Trinity 
.(e). 

Latins. — Daily  at  Prime  ;  Christmas  ;  Commendation  of  the 
dying  ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to  Church. 

Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

A  dha'sit  pavi men  to. 

MY  soul  cleaveth  to  the  dust  :  O  quicken  thou  me, 
according  to  thy  word. 

26  I  have  acknowledged  ni}'  ways,  and  thou  heardest 
me  :  0  teach  lue  thy  statutes. 

27  Make  me  to  understand  the  way  of  thy  com- 
mandments :  and  so  shall  I  talk  of  thy  wondrous  works. 

28  My  soul  melteth  away  for  very  heaviness  :  com- 
fort thou  me  according  unto  thy  word. 

29  Take  from  me  the  way  of  lying  :  and  cause  thou 
me  to  make  much  of  thy  law. 

>83 


A/j'25  PSALM  CXIX  Monnng  Prayer 

30  I  have  chosen  the  way  of  truth  :  and  thy  judge- 
ments have  I  laid-before  me. 

31  I  have  stuck  unto  thy  testimonies  :  O  Lord,  con- 
found me  not. 

32  I  will  run  the  way  of  thy  conniiandments  :  when 
tliou  hast  set  my  heart  at  liberty. 

When  Theodosius  the   Em-  had  promised  that  all  military 

peror  had,  in  violation  of  his  executions    should    henceforth 

promise,    massacred    7,000    of  be  delayed  for  thirty  days,  lest 

the  rebellious  people  of  Thes-  they  might  be  done  out  of  haste 

salonica,  St.  Ambrose  refused  and  tyranny.    The  whole  psalm 

to  admit  him  to  the  Holy  Com-  was  a  great  favourite  with  St. 

munion  at    Milan.     For   eight  Ambrose,  who  said  of  it  that 

months    he    remained   e.xcom-  David  shone  here  in  his  noon- 

inunicate.     At  Christmas  (390  day  light,   without   the  imper- 

A.D. )    he    came,    without    his  fections  of  sunrise  or  abatement 

royal  robes,  and  lay  prostrate  of  sunset. 

on   the  church  floor,  plucking         Adhcrsit    pavimento    aiiima 

out  his  hair  and  shedding  tears,  mea :  with  this  "  spiritual  jave- 

and  repeating,   AdIuTsit  pavi-  lin  "  St.  Hugh  of  Lincoln  over- 

mento.     St.  Ambrose  gave  him  came  a  fierce  temptation  of  the 

.Absolution,  but  not  before  he  flesh. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  the   Mass  on   IV.   Sunday  after 

Trinity  (e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Prime;  Christmas;  Commendation  of  the 

dying  ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to  Church. 
G;rc/J^.— Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 


Legem  pone. 

TEACH  me,  O  Lord,  the  way  of  thy  statutes  :  and  I 
shall  keep  it  unto  the  end. 

34  Give  me  understanding,  and  I  shall  keep  thy  law  : 
yea,  I  shall  keep  it  with  my  whole  heart. 

35  Make  me  to  go  in  the  path  of  thy  command- 
ments :  for  therein  is  my  desire. 

36  Incline  my  heart  unto  thy  testimonies  :  and  not 
to  covetousness. 

37  O  turn  away  mine  eyes,  lest  they  behold  vanity  : 
and  quicken  thou  me  in  thy  way. 

38  0  stablish  thy  word  in  thy  servant  :  that  I  may 
fear  thee. 

184 


Morning  I'niycr  PSALM  CXI X  Day  i'^ 

39  Take  away  the  rebuke  that  I  am  afraid  of  :  for 
thy  ju(l<,'('ments  are  good. 

40  Ik'liold,  my  delight  is  in  thy  commandments  :  (> 
(juickcn  nae  in  thy  righteousness. 

St.  Augustine  had  so  great  a  it,  because  of  its  marvellous 
reverence  for  Psalni  cxi.x. ,  that  depth  and  apparent  utter  sim- 
he   hesitated    to   comment   on    plicity. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  Mass  of  V.  Sunday  after  Trinity 

(e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Tierce  (9  o'clock) ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on 

the  way  to  Church. 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 


Et  veniat  super  me. 

LET  thy  loving  mercy  come  also  unto  me,  O  Lord, 
even  thy  salvation,  according  unto  thy  word. 

42  So  shall  I  make  answer  unto  my  blasphemers  : 
for  my  trust  is  in  thy  word. 

43  O  take  not  the  word  of  thy  truth  utterly  out  of 
my  mouth  :  for  my  hope  is  in  thy  judgements. 

44  So  shall  I  alway  keep  thj'  law  :  yea,  for  e\ev  and 
ever. 

45  And  I  will  walk  at  liberty  :  for  I  seek  thy  com- 
mandments. 

46  I  will  speak  of  thy  testimonies  also,  even  before 
kings  :  and  will  not  be  ashamed. 

47  And  my  delight  shall  be  in  thj'  conmiandments  : 
which  I  have  loved. 

48  My  hands  also  will  I  lift  up  unto  thy  command- 
ments, which  I  have  loved  :  and  my  study  shall  be  in 
thy  statutes. 

Among  the  most  pathetic  of  not  take  to  his  doggerel  instead 

metrical  versions  is  the  very  bald  of  their  own ,  for  he  had  left  out 

one  of  James  Maxwell.    Hedied  all  mention  of  "  brutal  sacrifices 

in  great  poverty  in  1800,  much  and  of  instrumental  music,"  and 

disappointed    and     astonished  he  hoped  this  would  endear  his 

that  the  Scotch  Kirk  men  would  book  to  all  Scottish  hearts. 

Liturgical  7ise. — Introit  for  the   Mass   on   VI.   Sunday  after 

Trinity  (e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Tierce;   funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 

Church. 
G;-tv^5.— Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns;  all  funerals. 

185 


Dayzi,  PSALM  CXIX  Morning  Prayer 

Memor  edo  servi  tui. 

0    THINK   upon  thy    servant,    as   concerning    thy 
word  :  wherein  thou  hast  caused  nie  to  put  my 
trust. 

50  The  same  is  my  comfort  in  my  trouble  :  for  thy 
word  hath  quickened  me. 

5 1  The  proud  have  had  me  exceedingly  in  derision  : 
yet  have  I  not  shrinked  from  thy  law. 

52  For  I  remembered  thine  everlasting  judgements, 
O  Lord  :  and  received  comfort. 

53  I  am  horribly  afraid  :  for  the  ungodly  that  for- 
sake the  law. 

54  Thy  statutes  have  been  my  songs  :  in  the  house 
of  my  pilgrimage. 

55  I  have  thought  upon  thy  Name,  O  Lord,  in  the 
night-season  :  and  have  kept  thy  law. 

56  This  I  had  :  because  I  kept  thy  commandments. 

Verse  c^^.  From  this  verse  tlie  Pilgrimage,"      and      Bunyan's 

term    "pilgrimage,"    used    for  "Pilgrim's     Progress"     itself, 

"  life,"  has  passed  into  common  refer  ultimately  to  this,  and  to 

life.       Othello,     for    insiance,  the  use  which  St.   Peter  made 

"all   his   pilgrimage"  dilates;  of  it  (i  Peter  ii.  11). 
Raleigh's   poem,    called    "His 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  on  VII.   Sunday  after 

Trinity. 
Latins. — Daily  at  Tierce;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 

Church. 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

Portio  niea,  Doni'me. 

THOU  art  my  portion,  O  Lord  :  I  have  promised  to 
keep  thy  law. 

58  I  made  my  humble  petition  in  thy  presence  witli 
my  whole  heart  :  O  be  merciful  unto  me,  according  to 
thy  word. 

59  I  called  mine  own  ways  to  remembrance  :  and 
turned  my  feet  unto  thy  testimonies. 

60  I  made  haste,  and  prolonged  not  tlie  time  :  to 
keep  thy  commandments. 

61  The  congregations  of  the  ungodly  liave  robbetl 
me  :  but  I  lia\e  not  forgotten  thy  law. 

186 


Morning  Praya-  PSALM  CXIX  Day  2-, 

62  At  iiiiclni;L,'lit  I  will  rise  to  give  thanks  unto  thee  : 
because  of  thy  righteous  judf,'enients. 

63  I  am  a  companion  of  all  them  that  fear  thee  :  anil 
keep  thy  connnandments. 

64  Tlie  earth,  0  Lord,  is  full  of  thy  mercy  :  0  teach 
me  thy  statutes. 

Verse   59.    Pascal,    who   de-  Christ    rose;     (2)    Matins    at 

clared    that    the   whole   psalm  6  a.m.,  when  the  Jews  offered 

summed  up  the  Christian   vir-  the  morning  sacrifices,  and  the 

tues,  s.iid  that  this  verse  gives  women  heard  from  Angels  that 

the   turning-point    to   a   man's  Christ  was  risen  ;  (3)  Tierce  at 

character  and  career.  9  a.m.,  when  Christ  was  con- 

Verse  62.  This  is  the  origin  demned  and  scourged  ;  (^)  Sext 
of  the  midnight  Hour  being  at  noon,  when  Our  Lord  was 
kept  with  prayer  and  praise,  crucified,  and  the  Sun  was 
It  is  in  all  the  midnight  offices  darkened;  (5)  A'onc  at  3  p.m., 
of  both  East  and  West.  The  when  He  gave  up  the  ghost ; 
Benedictine  rule,  which  wasnext  (6)  Vespers,  the  time  of  the  even- 
ancient  in  England  tothe  Saxon  mg  sacrifice,  when  Christ  was 
(vide  verse  164),  and  was  the  taken  from  the  cross  ;  (7)  Com- 
loundation  of  all  others,  divided  pline  at  7  p.m.,  when  the  agony 
the  hours  thus  :  (ij  Cock-crow  in  the  garden  began, 
or  Xoctiirns  at  2   a.m.,  when 

Liturgical  jise. — Introit  for  the  Mass  on  \'ni.  Sunday  after 

Trinity. 
Latins. — Daily  at  Tierce  ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 

Church. 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

BonUalemfecidi. 

OLORIX  thou  hast  dealt  gracioush-  with  thy  servant : 
according  unto  thy  word. 

66  0  learn  me  true  understanding  and  knowledge  : 
for  I  have  believed  thy  commandments. 

67  Before  I  was  troubled,  I  went  wrong  :  but  now 
liave  I  kept  thy  word. 

68  Thou  art  good  and  gracious  :  0  teach  me  thy 
statutes. 

69  The  proud  have  imagined  a  lie  against  me  :  but 
I  will  keep  thy  commandments  with  my  whole  heart. 

70  Their  heart  is  as  fat  as  brawn  :  but  my  delight 
hath  been  in  thy  law. 

71  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  in  trouble  : 
that  I  may  learn  thy  statutes, 

187 


Day  2$  PSALM  CXIX  Evening  Prayer 

J 2  The  law  of  thy  mouth  is  dearer  unto  nie  :  than 
thousands  of  gold  and  silver. 

Verseji.  PVancisI.  of  France  of  the  Certosa,  where  the  choir 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Pavia,  were  singing  this  psalm.  He 
1525,  and  taken  to  the  Ciiurch    joined  in  loudly  at  this  verse. 

Liturgical  i/sc.  —  Introit  for  IX.  Sunday  after  Trinity  (e). 

Latins. — Daily  at  Tierce  ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 
Church. 

Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 


T' 


Mamis  tuce  fecerunt  me. 

IHY  hands  have  made  me  and  fashioned  me  :  O 
J_  give  me  understanding,  that  I  may  learn  thy 
commandments. 

74  They  that  fear  thee  will  be  glad  when  they  see 
me  :  because  I  have  put  my  trust  in  thy  word. 

75  I  know,  O  Lord,  that  thy  judgements  are  right  : 
and  that  thou  of  very  faithfulness  hast  caused  me  to 
be  troubled. 

76  O  let  thy  merciful  kindness  be  my  comfort  : 
according  to  thy  word  unto  thy  servant. 

JJ  O  let  thy  loving  mercies  come  unto  me,  that  I 
may  live  :  for  thy  law  is  my  delight. 

78  Let  the  proud  be  confounded,  for  they  go 
wickedly  about  to  destroy  me  :  but  I  will  be  occupied 
in  thy  commandments. 

79  Let  such  as  fear  thee,  and  have  known  thy  testi- 
monies :  be  turned  unto  me. 

80  O  let  my  heart  be  sound  in  thy  statutes  :  that  I 
be  not  ashamed. 

yerse  78.  Confundantiir  sii-  screwing  his  neck  about  very 
perbi.  When  Charlemagne  queerly,  until  theothers  laughed 
was  hearing  Mass,  an  outland  aloud.  The  Emperor  in  aloud 
monk  came  who  had  not  yet  voice  stopped  the  Mass,  sent 
learnt  to  sing.  The  choir-mns-  for  the  strange  monk,  and 
ter,  seeing  him  silent,  smote  thanked  him  for  the  pains  he 
him  with  a  staff  and  bade  him  had  taken  to  sing,  and  gave 
join  in  the  praises  of  God,  him  money  for  his  melody, 
which    he    did,    out   of    tune. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  X.  Sunday  after  Trinity  (e). 

Latins. — Daily  at  Tierce;  funeral  of  a  child,  on   the  way  to 
Church. 

<^7;w^j.— Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

188 


F.vcnirii;  Prayer  PSALM   CX IX  /->"/ 25 

iJefedt  anlma  iiiea. 

MY  soul  hath  longed  for  thy  salvation  :  and  I  have 
a  good  hope  because  of  thj'  word. 

82  Mine  eyes  long  sore   for  thv  word   :   saying,   O 
when  wilt  thou  comfort  me  ? 

83  For  I  am  become  like  a  bottle  in  the  smoke  :  yet 
do  I  not  forget  thy  statutes. 

84  How  many  are  the  days  of  thy  servant  :  when 
wilt  thou  be  avenged  of  them  that  persecute  me  '? 

85  The  proud  have  digged  pits  for  me  :  which  are 
not  after  thy  law. 

86  All  thy  commandments  are  true  :  they  persecute 
me  falsely ;  O  be  thou  my  help. 

87  They  had  almost  made  an  end  of  me  upon  earth  : 
but  I  forsook  not  thy  connnandments. 

88  O  quicken  me  after  thy  loving-kindness  :  and  so 
shall  I  keep  the  testimonies  of  th}-  mouth. 

Dr.    Johnson   thus  defended  to  help  the  memory  and  delight 

the  prose  version  of  the  PsaUer  the  ear,  and  for  these  purposes 

against  the  fashionable   metri-  it  may  be  very  useful,    but  it 

cal  translators :  "  Of  sentiments  supplies  nothing  to  the  mind, 

purely  religious,  it  will  be  found  The  ideas  of  Christian  theology 

that  the  most  simple  e.xpression  are   too   simple  for   eloquence 

is  the  most  sublime.       Poetry  and  too  majestic  for  ornament ; 

loses  its   lustre  and   its  power  to  recommend  them  by  tropes 

because  it  is  applied  to  some-  and  figures  is  to  magnify  by  a 

thing  more  excellent  than  itself,  concave    mirror    the     sidereal 

All  that  pious  verse  can  do  is  hemisphere." 

I.ituri;ical  use. — Introit  for  the  Mass   on  XI.    .Sunday  after 

Trinity  (e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Sext  ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on   the  way  to 

Church. 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

In  aif'nuim,  Domine. 

OLOPiD,  thy  word  :  endureth  for  ever  in  heaven. 
90  Thy  truth  also  reinaineth  from  one  genera- 
tion to  another  :  thou  hast  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
earth,  and  it  abideth. 

91  They  continue  this  day  according  to  thine  ordin- 
ance :  for  all  things  serve  thee. 

92  If  my  delight  had  not  been  in  th}-  law  :  I  should 
have  perished  in  my  trouble. 

189 


Day  2^  PSALM  CXI X  Eveniu^^  Prayer 

93  I  will  never  forget  thj-  coramandnients  :  for  with 
them  thou  hast  quickened  nie. 

94  I  am  thine,  0  save  me  :  for  I  have  sought  thy 
commandments. 

95  The  ungodlj'  laid  wait  for  me  to  destroy  me  :  but 
I  will  consider  thy  testimonies. 

96  I  see  that  all  things  come  to  an  end  :  but  thy 
commandment  is  exceeding  broad. 

Verse  92.     The  verse  Luther  the   power    of    the    earth.       I 

selected  as   his   motto   for  his  would  not  exchange  it  for  the 

own  Bible,  which  is  now  in  tlie  whole  earth  if  I  could." 

museum  at  Berlin.     He  wrote  I'erse  93.     St.  Theodore  {a 

to    the   Abbot   of    Nuremberg  .t//^ii'/t)),  who  died  in  826,  begged 

thus  about   the  whole  psahn  :  his   friends  to  sing   him  Beati 

"  I    have    more   especial'y   at-  imniaculati,  and    died  at  this 

tached    myself   to  this   psalm,  verse  while  they  were  doing  so. 

and    have   in   truth   a  sort    of  ]'ersc  f)'^.    This  is  beautifully 

right  to  call  it  my  own.     It  has  chosen  as  the  introit  to  the  Mass 

deserved   well   of   me:    it  has  both  for  the  holy  St.  Agnes  and 

saved  me  from   many  a   diffi-  also  for  St.   Mary  Magdalen's 

culty  whence  neither  the  em-  Day,  in  the  Latin  use. 

peror  nor  king  nor  wise  men  Verse  96.       Dean    Stanley's 

nor  saints  could  have  extricated  favourite    verse.         It     is     the 

me.     It  is,  my  friend,  dearer  to  epitaph  above  his  wife's  grave 

me   than  all   the   honours,  all  and  his  own. 

Litu7-gical  vse. — Introit  for  XII.  Sunday  after  Trinity  (e). 

Latins.  —  Daily  at  Sext  ;   fimeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 
Church. 

Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Xocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

Quomodo  il'dexi ! 

LORD,  what  love  have  I  unto  thy  law  :  all  the  day 
long  is  my  study  in  it. 

98  Thou  through  th}'  commandments  hast  made  me 
wiser  than  mine  enemies  :  for  they  are  ever  with  me. 

99  I  have  more  understanding  than  my  teachers  : 
for  thy  testimonies  are  my  study. 

100  I  am  wiser  than  the  aged  :  because  I  keep  thy 
commandments. 

loi   I  have  refrained  my  feet  from  every  evil  way  : 
that  I  may  keep  thy  word. 

102  I  have  not  shrunk  from  tliy  judgements  :  for 
thou  teachest  me. 

103  0  how  sweet  are   thy  words  unto  my  throat  : 
yea,  sweeter  than  honey  unto  my  mouth. 

190 


Morning;  Prayer  I'SALM  CXIX  Dayib 

104  Through  thy  commanduients  I  get  miderstand- 
ing  :  therefore  I  hate  all  evil  ways. 

(>//(3;//()rt'6'rt'//tM7  was  a  passage  into  Hindustani  and  Persian, 
particularly  loved  by  Henry  but  died  shortly  afterwards 
Martyn,  the  Indian  missionary.  (1781-1812). 
He  was  a  Cornishman,  born  at  I'crse  103  is  David's  scroll- 
Truro,  and  became  Fellow  and  motto  in  the  title-page  of  Cover- 
Tutor  at  St.  John's  College,  dale's  Bible  (1535)  "  O  how 
Cambridge.  Tlie  influence  of  swete  are  thy  vvordes  vnto  my 
Charles  Simeon  sent  him  out  to  throte  :  ye  more  then  hony," 
India,  where  he  translated  the  etc.  This  liible  was  the  pre- 
Psalter  and  the  New  Testament    cursor  of  all  English  Bibles. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  the   Mass  on  XIII,  Sunday  after 
Trinity  (e). 

Latins. — Daily  at  Sext ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to  Church. 

Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 


Lucerna  pedibus  nieis. 

n^HY  word  is  a  lantern  imto  my  feet  :  and  a  liglit 
_L      unto  my  paths. 

106  I  have  sworn,  and  am  steadfastly  purposed  :  to 
keep  thy  righteous  judgements. 

107  I  am  troubled  above  measure  :  (quicken  me,  O 
Lord,  according  to  thy  word. 

108  Let  the  free-will  oti'erings  of  my  mouth  please 
thee,  O  Lord  :  and  teach  me  thy  judgements. 

109  ^ly  soul  is  alway  in   my  hand  :  yet  do  I  not 
forget  thy  law. 

1 10  The  ungodly  have  laid  a  snare  for  me  :  but  yet 
I  swerved  not  from  thy  connuandments. 

1 1 1  Thy  testimonies  have  I  claimed  as  mine  heritage 
for  ever  :  and  why '?  they  are  the  very  joy  of  my  heart. 

1 1 2  I  have  applied  my  heart  to  fulfil  thy  statutes 
alway  :  even  unto  the  end. 

J'erse  105.  The  coin  motto  Bible  in  the  English  Church, 
for  the  half-sovereigns  of  but  also  the  hope  that  the 
Edward  VI.  is  Lucerna  pcdi-  nation  had  passed  its  troubles, 
bus  mcis  vcrbum  Tuutn.  This  and  would  be  quickened 
represented  not  only  the  new-  "  according  to  Thy  word." 
found  delight  in  the  use  of  the 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  on  XIV.  Sunday  after 
Trinity  (e). 

Latins. — Daily  at  Se.xt ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to  Church. 

Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

191 


Day  26  PSALM  CXIX  Morning  Prayer 

Iniquos  odio  Jiabui. 

I  HATE  tliem   that  imagine  evil  things  :  but  thy 
law  do  I  love. 

114  Thou  art  my  defence  and  shield  :  and  my  trust 
is  in  thy  word. 

1 1 5  Away  from  me,  ye  wicked  :  I  will  keep  the  com- 
mandments of  my  God. 

1 16  0  stablish  me  according  to  thy  word,  that  I  may 
live  :  and  let  me  not  be  disappointed  of  my  hope. 

1 17  Hold  thou  me  up,  and  I  shall  be  safe  :  yea,  my 
delight  shall  be  ever  in  thy  statutes. 

118  Thou  hast  trodden  down  all  them  that  depart 
from  thy  statutes  :  for  they  imagine  but  deceit. 

119  Thou  puttest  away  all  the  ungodly  of  the  earth 
like  dross  :  therefore  I  love  thy  testimonies. 

120  My  flesh  trembleth  for  fear  of  thee  :  and  I  am 
afraid  of  thy  judgements. 

I'erse  116.  "  Receive  me  ac-  Vermondes  and  Tournay,  who 
cording  to  Tiny  loving-icind-  died  November  30tl:,  659  A.D. 
ness,  and  let  me  not  be  disap-  His  name  is  known  to  Englisii 
pointed  of  my  liope."  Tliese  folk  ciiiefly  because  of  Chaucer's 
were  the  last  words  of  St.  NonnePrioresse,  whose  heaviest 
Eligius,  the  Bishop  of  Noyou,     oatii  was  "  but,  by  Saint  Eloy." 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  on  XV.  Sunday  after 
Trinity  (e). 

Latins.  —  Daily  at  Sext  ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 
Church. 

Greeks. — .Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

Fad  jadiciuin. 

IDEAL  with  the  thing  that  is  lawful  and  right  :  O 
give  me  not  over  to  mine  oppressors. 

122  Make  thou  thy  servant  to  delight  in  that  which 
is  good  :  that  the  proud  do  me  no  wrong. 

123  Mine  eyes  are  wasted  awaj'  with  looking  for 
thy  health  :  and  for  the  word  of  thy  righteousness. 

124  O  deal  with  thy  servant  according  unto  thy 
loving  mercy  :  and  teach  me  thy  statutes. 

125  I  am  thy  servant,  O  grant  me  understanding  : 
that  I  may  know  thy  testimonies. 

126  It  is  time  for  thee.  Lord,  to  lay  to  thine  hand  : 
for  they  have  destroyed  thy  law. 

192 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  CXI  X  Dayit 

r27  For  I  love  thy  commandments  :  above  gold  and 
precious  stone. 

128  Therefore  hold  I  straight  all  thy  command- 
ments :  and  all  false  ways  I  utterly  abhor. 

Verse  125.  This  verse  ex-  dilating  and  thorough  under- 
pressed  the  aspirations  of  the  standing  of  one  single  verse 
Oxford  Reformers  of  1498,  only  will  profit  more,"  says 
whose  great  plea  was  for  Erasmus,  "  than  the  being  able 
thorough  understanding  rather  to  repeat  the  whole  book  of 
than  mechanical  repetition  of  Psalms,  but  without  knowing  the 
holy  words.     "  The  careful  me-  meaning  of  one  word  thereof." 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  the  Mass  on  XVI.  Sunday  after 

Trinity  (e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Sext  ;   funeral  of  a  child,   on  the  way  to 

Church. 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

Mirahxlia. 

THY  testimonies  are  wonderful  :  therefore  doth  my 
sonl  keep  them. 

1 30  When  \X\\  word  goeth  forth  :  it  giveth  light  and 
understanding  unto  the  shnple. 

131  I  opened  my  mouth,  and  drew  in  my  breath  : 
for  my  delight  was  in  thy  commandments. 

1 32  0  look  thou  upon  me,  and  be  merciful  unto  me  : 
as  thou  usest  to  do  unto  those  that  love  thy  Name. 

133  Order  my  steps  in  thy  word  :  and  so  shall  no 
wickedness  have  dominion  over  me. 

134  O  deliver  me  from  the  wrongful  dealings  of 
men  :  and  so  sliall  I  keep  thj-  commandments. 

135  Shew  the  light  of  thy  countenance  upon  thy 
servant  :  and  teach  me  thy  statutes. 

136  Mine  eyes  gush  out  with  water  :  because  men 
keep  not  thy  law. 

In  1632  George  Wither  pub-  And  (being  assured  my  labour 

lished  a  double  metrical  version  shal  not  all  be  lost)  I  will  sing 

of  the  Psalms,  encouraged  by  and   be   Merry  by  myselfe,   in 

the   late   king,    and    dedicated  the  use  of  this  Translation,  un- 

with   zealous   loyalty  to  Eliza-  till  others  please  to  sing  it  with 

beth,  Queen  of  Bohemia.     He  mee  ;   or   untill  a   more  exact 

closes  his  preface  thus  :  "  If  I  Version  shall  be  produced  and 

have  pleased  my  Readers  I  am  allowed."     He  added  to  each 

glad  :  if  not  ;  Yet  I  am  glad  I  psalm   a   pious    meditation    of 

have  honestly  endeavoured  it.  his  own.     This  is  his  comment 

193  O 


Day  26  PSALM  CXIX  Morning  Prayer 

on   Mirabilia:   "  Sweet  Jesus,  are   in  danger  to  partake  thy 

though  we  desire  to  seeme  wise  ;  suffrings.      O    look    upon    us 

wee  are  very  simple  in  the  best  therefor,  with  such  an  aspect, 

knowledge  :    Oh   encrease   our  as  thou  didst  cast  on  thy  Apostle 

understandings.     Though  wee  St.  Peter,  that  weeping  bitterly 

professe  great  Affection  to  thee  for  our  Sinnsand  unkindnesses, 

and  thy  Lawe  ;  yet  wee  soone  as  he  did  ;  we  may  obtaine  the 

deny  (yea  forswear)  both,  if  we  same  forgiveness."     Amen. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  on  XVII.  Sunday  after 

Trinity  (e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Nones  (3  o'clock  afternoon)  ;  the  funeral  of 

a  child,  on  the  way  to  Church. 
(;r^^/Jj.— Saturday  morning;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

Justus  es,  Domine. 

RIGHTEOUS  art  thou,  0  Lord  :  and  true  is  thy 
judgement. 

138  The  testinaonies  that   thou   hast   commanded  : 
are  exceeding  righteous  and  true. 

1 39  My  zeal  hath  even  consumed  me  :  because  luine 
enemies  have  forgotten  thy  words. 

140  Thy  word  is  tried  to   the  uttermost  :  and  thy 
servant  loveth  it. 

141  I  am  small,  and  of  no  reputation  :  yet  do  I  not 
forget  thy  commandments. 

142  Thy  righteousness  is  an  everlasting  righteous- 
ness :  and  thy  law  is  the  truth. 

143  Trouble  and  heaviness  have  taken  hold  upon 
me  :  yet  is  my  delight  in  thy  commandments. 

144  The  righteousness  of  thy  testimonies  is  everlast- 
ing :  0  grant  me  understanding,  and  I  shall  live. 

Justus  es  Domine  et  rectum  captives,  broken  in  mind,  body, 

yVc^Z/V/ww /w/^w  was  the  frequent  and  faith,  serving  the  enemy  in 

meditation  of  St.  .A.ugustine  and  evil  and  harsh  fashion.     Of  the 

his    friends    during    the   great  many  thousand  churches  only 

siege  of  Hippo,  during  which  three  remained  standing, 
he  died:    having  lived  to   see         I'erse    J27-     The     Emperor 

the  cities  of  his  diocese  over-  Maurice,  whose  five  sons  were 

whelmed    in    ruin    with    their  first  slain  before  his  face,  died 

builders,  the  inhabitants  cither  with   these  words   on   his   lips 

fled,    dead    or    scattered,    the  (602  A. n.). 
churches     without     priest     or         Verse  140.  Ignilum  eloqttium 

minister,  the  monks  and  nuns  tuum    vchementer.       Scripture 

all    dispersed;    of   the    people  itself  "is  like  an  apothecary's 

some  killed  with  tortures,  some  shop,  wherein  are  all  remedies 

slain  by  the  sword,  and  some  for  all  infirmities  of  mind,  pur- 


Kvcniiijf  Pniycr  PSALM  CXIX  Day  26 

galives,  cordials,  alteratives,  ignilutn  colloquium ;  Origen,  a 
corroboratives,  lenitives,  etc.  charm.  And  therefore  Hieroin 
'  Every  disease  of  the  soul,'  prescribes  kusticus  the  monk 
saiih  Austin,  'hath  a  peculiar  continuilly  to  read  the  Scrip- 
medicine  in  Scripture :  this  only  ture  and  to  meditate  on  that 
is  required,  that  the  sick  man  which  he  hatli  read  :  'for  as 
take  the  potion  which  God  mastication  is  to  meat,  so  is 
hath  already  tempered.'  Gre-  meditation  on  that  which  we 
gfory  calls  it  a  glass  wherein  read '  "  (Z/z/rA';;). 
we  may  see  all  our  infirmities, 

Lifiirvical  use.  —  Introit  to  the  Mass  on  X\'III.  Sunday  after 

Trinity  (e). 
La/ins. — Daily  at  Nones  ;   funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 

Church. 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 


Clamavi  in  toto  corde  meo. 

rCALL  with  my  whole  heart  :  hear  me,  0  Lord,  I 
will  keep  thy  statutes. 

146  Yea,  even  unto  thee  do  I  call  :  help  me  and  I 
shall  keep  thy  testimonies. 

147  Early  in  the  morning  do  I  cry  unto  thee  :  for 
in  thy  word  is  my  trust. 

148  Mine  eyes  prevent  the  night-watches  :  that  I 
might  be  occupied  in  thy  words. 

149  Hear  my  voice,  O  Lord,  according  unto  thy 
lo\iug-kindness  :  quicken  me,  according  as  thou  art 
wont. 

1 50  They  draw  nigh  that  of  malice  persecute  me  : 
and  are  far  from  thy  law. 

151  Be  thou  nigh  at  hand,  0  Lord  :  for  all  tliy  com- 
mandments are  true. 

152  As  concerning  thy  testimonies,  I  have  known 
long  since  :  that  thou  hast  grounded  them  for  ever. 

Dr.  Richard  Holdsworth,  the  and  yet  quautillum  Scripturtr, 

lllizabethan  Bishop  of  Bristol,  how  little  of  the  word  of  (jod, 

made    this    meditation,    when  they    had    in    that   age, — the 

near   to  his   "patient   death."  Pentateuch,    the   book   of  Job 

"  I  admire, "  said  he,  "at  David's  and  some  of  the  Hagiography  ! 

gracious  heart,  who  so  often  in  How  much  have  we  now  thereof 

Scripture  (but  especially  in  the  since  the  accession  of  the  Pro- 

iio  Psalm)  e.xtolleth  the  worth  phets,  but  especially  of  the  New 

and  value  of  the  word  of  God  ;  Testament  !      And    yet,    alas  ! 

195 


Day  26  PSALM  CXIX  Evening  Prayer 

the  more  we  have  of  the  word  retained  an  ardent  love  for  the 
of  God  the  less  it  is  generally  psalms  all  his  days,  and  used  to 
regarded."  say  in  his  latest  days  that  he 

The    late    Bishop     Medley,     was  just  beginning  to  compre- 
when   he  was   a   child  of  six,     hend  something  of  their  depth 
learned    the    whole   of    Psalm     and  beauty. 
cxix.  at  his  mother's  knee.    He 

Liturgical  rise. — Introit  to  the  Mass  on  XIX.  Sunday  after 
Trinity  (e). 

Latins. — Daily  at  Nones  ;   funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 
Church. 

Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 

Vide  hximilitateiii. 

0  CONSIDER  mine  adversity,  and  deliver  lue  :  for 
I  do  not  forget  thy  law. 

154  Avenge  thou  my  cause,  and  deliver  me  :  ([uicken 
me,  according  to  thy  word. 

155  Health  is  far  from  the  imgodly  :  for  they  regard 
not  thy  statutes. 

156  Great  is  thy  mercy,  O  Lord  :  quicken  me,  as 
thou  art  wont. 

157  Many  there  are  that  trouble  me,  and  persecute 
me  :  yet  do  I  not  swerve  from  thy  testimonies. 

158  It  grieveth  me  when  I  see  the  transgressors  : 
because  they  keep  not  thy  law. 

159  Consider,  O  Lord,  how  I  love  thy  connuand- 
ments  :  O  quicken  me,  according  to  thy  loving-kind- 
ness. 

160  Thy  word  is  true  from  everlasting  :  all  the 
judgements  of  thy  righteousness  endure  for  evermore. 

"In theinnersanctuary,"says    have   here  accomplished  there 
Mr.  Gladstone,  writing  of  the     is  no  parallel  on  earth." 
Mosaic  system,  "provided  for  I'erse  \6o.  This  was  a  strong- 

the  most  capable  human  souls,  hold  of  orthodox  people  against 
was  reared  the  strong  spiritual  the  .Arians.  "  Thy  Word,"  of 
life,  which  appears  to  have  course,  was  used  as  meaning 
developed  itself  pre-eminently  Christ,  and  rightly  to  under- 
in  the  depth,  richness,  tender-  stand  the  liturgical  use  of  this 
ness  and  comprehensiveness  of  psalm  one  must  bear  this  con- 
the  Psalms.     To  the  work  they    siantly  in  mind. 

Liturgical  use.  —  Introit  for  the   Mass  on   the   XX.    Sunday 
after  Trinity  (e). 

Latins.  —  Daily  at  Nones  ;   funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 
("hurch. 

<7/Y^/t5.— Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Xoctnrns  ;  all  funerals. 

196 


F.ve  ui, I  i;  Prayer  I'SALM  CXIX  Dayoh 


Fr'mcipes  persecuti  sunf. 

PRINCES  have  persecuted  me  without  a  cause  :  but 
iny  heai't  standeth  in  awe  of  thy  word. 

162  I  ain  as  glad  of  thy  word  :  as  one  that  findeth 
jjfreat  spoils. 

163  As  for  lies,  I  hate  and  abhor  them  :  but  thy  law 
do  I  love. 

164  Seven  times  a  day  do  I  praise  thee  :  because  of 
thy  righteous  judgements. 

165  Great  is  the  peace  that  they  have  who  love  thy 
law  :  and  they  are  not  offended  at  it. 

166  Lord,  I  have  looked  for  thy  saving  health  :  and 
done  after  thy  commandments. 

167  My  soul  hath  kept  thy  testimonies  :  and  loved 
them  exceedingly. 

168  I    have    kept    thy   commandments    and    testi- 
monies :  for  all  my  ways  ai*e  before  thee. 

I'ei'se  164.    This  verse   gave  when  Christ  died,  and  the  day 

the  seven-fold  division  of  the  declines  and  men  begin  to  tire, 

day   into  the  canonical  hours.  Nones  is  due,  and  we  ask  for 

The   seven   gifts  of    the   Holy  Strength.    At  6  p.m.  the  day  is 

(jhost   were   implored,   one  at  full  old,  Cotnpline  comes,  and 

each  of  tliese  hours,   and   the  we   ask    for    Knowledge.      At 

choice   is  beautiful  and  appro-  9  p.m.    is   the  Evensong,   and 

priate.    At  6  a.m.,  when  Prime  we   ask    for    the    Piety   which 

is    said,     we     should     implore  beautifies    old   age.      At    mid- 

tiie   Spirit  of  Wisdom,   as   we  night    is    Nightsong,    and    all 

enter    upon     the    kingship   of  evil  things  are  abroad.     Then 

another  day.     At  9  a.m.,  when  we    ask    for    Holy   Fear    (see 

Tierce    (Undern,    the    English  verse  62).     The  Roman  hours 

called  it)  is  said,   as  the  light  are     Matins    (Lauds),    Prime, 

grows,  we  ask  for  Understand-  Tierce,  Se.\t,   Nones,  Vespers, 

ing.  At  noon,  when  Sext  is  said,  and  Compline. 

and  men  meet  for  dinner,  we  rerse  16^.  This  is  the  sundial 

nsk  for  Counsel.    At  3  o'clock,  motto  of  the  cathedral  at  Padua. 

f.ittir^^ical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  on  XXI.  Sunday  after 

Trinity  (e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Nones  ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 

Church. 
(ireeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 


197 


Day  27  PSALM  CXX  Moniiiig  Prayer 

A'ppropinq net  deprecatio. 

LET  my  complaint  come  before  thee,  0  Lord  :  give 
me  understanding,  according  to  thy  word. 

170  Let  my  supphcation  come  before  thee  :  dehver 
me,  according  to  thy  word. 

171  My  Hps  shall  speak  of  thy  praise  :  when  thou 
hast  taught  me  thj'  statutes. 

172  Yea,  my  tongue  shall  sing  of  thy  word  :  for  all 
thy  commandments  are  righteous. 

173  Let  thine  hand  help  me  :  for  I  have  chosen  thy 
commandments. 

174  I  have  longed  for  thy  saving  health,  O  Lord  : 
and  in  thy  law  is  my  delight. 

175  O  let  my  soul  live,  and  it  shall  praise  thee  :  and 
thy  judgements  shall  help  me. 

176  I  have  gone  astray  like  a  sheep  that  is  lost  : 
O  seek  thy  servant,  for  I  do  not  forget  thy  command- 
ments. 

A   famous  book   in   its   day  cated     his      book      to      David 

was  William  Cowper's  "  Holy  (Murray),     Lord    Scone.      He 

.Alphabet  for  Sion's  Scholars,"  contends,    with    St.    Ambrose, 

a  dissertation  upon  this  psalm,  that  this  psalm   is   subdivided 

The    author    was     Bishop    of  in     order     to     be    applied    to 

Galloway,   and    in    1613   dedi-  different  periods  of  man's  life. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  the  Mass  for  the  XXII.  Sunday 

after  Trinity  (e). 
Latins. — Daily  at  Nones  ;  funeral  of  a  child,  on  the  way  to 

Church. 
Greeks. — Saturday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns  ;  all  funerals. 


PSALM  CXX.     Ad  Domimm. 

WHEN  I  was  in  trouble  I  called  upon  the  Lord  : 
and  he  heard  me. 

2  Deliver  my  soul,  O  Lord,  from  lying  lips  :  and 
from  a  deceitful  tongue. 

3  What  reward  shall  be  given  or  done  unto  tliee, 
thou  false  tongue  :  even  mighty  and  sharp  arrows,  with 
hot  burning  coals. 

4  Woe  is  me,  that  I  am  constrained  to  dwell  with 
Mesech  :  and  to  have  my  habitation  among  the  tents 
of  Kedar. 

198 


Moniiii^  Prayer  PSALM  CXXI  Z?.// 27 

5  My  soul  hath  long  dwelt  among  them  :  that  are 
enemies  unto  peace. 

6  I  labour  for  peace,  but  when  I  speak  imto  them 
thereof  :  they  make  them  ready  to  battle. 

This  is  the  first  of  the  fifteen  rest.  O  I^ord,  and  lighten  them 

gradual  psalms,  or  songs  of  de-  with  everlasting  light."  The  first 

grees,  which  prepared  the  wor-  five  are  said  without  Gloria, 
shippers  for  the  sacrifice.   They         I'crse  4.   Isaac  Walton  uses 

are  divided  into  three  flights  of  this  of  Joan  Churchman  (Mrs. 

five  psalms  each.  Richard    Hooker),    who,     like 

If  Psalm  cxix.  was  com-  Solomon's  dripping  house, 
posed  for  the  Jewish  caravans,  caused  her  husband  to  say 
as  they  converged  upon  the  with  the  holy  Prophet,  "Woe 
Holy  City,  the  songs  of  degrees  is  me,  that  I  am  constrained  to 
(Pss.  cxx.-cxxxiv. )  were  for  the  have  my  habitation  in  the  tents 
ascent  up  to  the  Temple,  from  of  Kedar. " 
the  valleys  to  the  summit.  The  This  verse  was  quoted  by 
Temple  was  said  in  the  Middle  "Blessed"  Richard  Kirkman, 
Ages  to  have  had  fifteen  steps  who  was  hung  at  Tyburn  for 
up  to  it,  as  one  may  see  in  saying  Roman  Mass,  and  re- 
Titian's  "  Presentation  of  the  fusing  the  oath  of  supremacy, 
Virgin    Mary,"    for     instance,  1579. 

and    these    fifteen   or  gradual  I'crse  S.  M  it  I  tit  in  in  cola  fait 

psalms  were  a  preparation  for  aniina   mea — a  verse  often  in 

Sacrifice.    They  are  said  by  the  the  mouth  of  Lord  Bacon,  e._^., 

Latins  in  Lent  on  Wednesdays,  in  the  Essay  of  "Nature  and 

with    the    antiphon     Requiem  Man " ;   the   letter   to    Bodley, 

ctternam,    etc. — "Grant   them  etc. 

Liturgical  use.  —  Introit  to  the  Mass  on  the  II.   Sunday  in 
Advent  (e). 

Latins. — Monday  Vespers  ;  Maundy  Thursday. 

Greeks. — Friday  evening. 

PSALM  CXXI.     Levavi  oculos. 

I   WILL   lift   up   mine    eyes  unto   the   hills  :  from 
whence  cometh  my  help. 

2  Mj'  help  cometh  even  from  the  Lord  :  who  hath 
made  heaven  and  earth. 

3  He  will  not  sutfer  thy  foot  to  be  moved  :  and  he 
that  keepeth  thee  will  not  sleep. 

4  Behold,   he   that  keepeth   Israel   :    shall    neitlier 
slumber  nor  sleep. 

5  The  Lord  himself  is  thy  keeper  :  the  Lord  is  thy  . 
defence  upon  thy  right  hand  ; 

6  So  that  the  sun  shall  not  burn  thee  by  day  :  neither 
the  moon  by  night. 

199 


^'y  27  PSALM  CXXII  Morning  Prayer 

7  The  Lord  shall  preserve  thee  from  all  evil  :  yea,  it 
is  even  he  that  shall  keep  thy  soul. 

8  The  Lord  shall  preserve  thy  going  out,  and  thy 
coming  in  :  from  this  time  forth  for  eAermore. 

This   second  gradual  psalm  Unseen   both  heaven  and 

has  been  called  the  Traveller's  earth." 

psalm;  and  Hooper,  the  Puri-  ,>,•     r>        .  ••         j-      •       ■ 

tan  Bishop  of  Gloucester,  was  ^^''^  Rossetti  s  meditation  in 

accustomed,  like  many  others,  °"''  more  subjective  time  upon 

to  use  it  when  he  set  out  upon  ^^^  ^^"^'^  '^^g'"^  ' 

a  journey.     Livingstone  read  it  "I  am  pale  with  sick  desire, 

to  his  family  before  he  left  for  For  my  heart  is  far  away 

Africa.  From  this  world's  fitful  fire, 

Henry  Vaughan,  the  Silurist,  And   this   world's   waning 

loved  this  psalm,  and  meditated  day. " 

unonh  in  Si/ex  Scinfi/lans:  t                i        i- 

"  Up  to  those  bright  and  glad-  Domino — a   motto   chosen    by 

some  hills,  Edward  the   Black  Prince   for 

Whence    flowes    my   weal  the  English  coins  of  1362. 

and  mirth,  Verse   4.     Non    dortnit   qui 

I  look  and  sigh  for  Him,  who  cnsiodit  is   the   motto   of    the 

fills  Coghill  family. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit   for  the  Mass  on  the  Sunday  after 

Christmas  Day  (e). 
Latins. — Monday  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  evening ;  daily  Nocturns. 


PSALM  CXXII.     Lcetuiussum. 

I  WAS  glad  when  they  said  unto  me  :  We  will  go 
into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 

2  Our  feet  shall  stand  in  thy  gates  :  O  Jerusalem. 

3  Jerusalem  is  built  as  a  citj-  :  that  is  at  unity  in 
itself. 

4  For  thither  the  tribes  go  up,  even  the  tribes  of  the 
Lord  :  to  testify  unto  Israel,  to  give  thanks  unto  the 
Name  of  the  Lord. 

5  For  there  is  the  seat  of  judgement  :  even  the  seat 
of  the  house  of  David. 

6  O  pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem  :  they  shall 
prosper  that  love  thee. 

7  Peace  be  within  thy  walls  :  and  plenteousness 
within  thy  palaces. 


.]/or>iini;  Prayer 


I'SALM   CXXIll 


Day  "irj 


8  For  my  brethren  and  companions'  sakes  :  I  \\\\\ 
wish  thee  prosperity. 

9  Yea,  because  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  our  God  :  I 
will  seek  to  do  thee  good. 


A  gradual  psalm  (vide  cxx. ). 

I'crsc  \.  When  St.  Richard, 
the  liishop  of  Lincoln,  was  told 
by  the  physicians  that  his  end 
was  near,  he  cried  out  these 
words.  They  asked  him  if  he 
needed  anything,  and  he  an- 
swered with  St.  Philip,  "Show 
us  the  Father,  and  it  sufficeth 
us."  \Miercupon  they  showed 
him  the  crucifi.v,  which  he  de- 
voutly kissed,  and  presently 
died.  This  use  of  the  psalm 
was  not  uncommon. 


Dean  Stanley  when  he 
preached  the  funeral  sermon 
of  Sir  G.  Gilbert  Scott,  chose 
this  as  the  motto  for  his 
sermon,  which  was  upon  the 
religious  aspect  of  Gothic 
Arcliitecture. 

Verse  7.  Fiat  pax  in  virlute 
tua  (Peace  be  in  thy  strength) 
is  the  legend  on  English  coins 
of  1.^22,  when  baby  Henry  VI. 
was  crowned  in  Paris  King  of 
England  and  France. 


f.iturgical  use.  — Introit  to  the  Mass  for  the  Circumcision  (e). 

Coronation  Service. 
Latins. — Tuesday  Vespers  ;    Circumcision  ;    Festivals  o(  our 

I^ady, 
Greeks. — Friday  evening. 

PSALM  CXXIII.     Ad  te  levavi  ocidos  meos. 

UNTO   thee   lift   I   up   mine   eyes    :    0   thou   that 
dwellest  in  the  heavens. 

2  Behold,  eveia  as  the  eyes  of  servants  look  unto  the 
hand  of  their  masters,  and  as  the  eyes  of  a  maiden 
unto  the  hand  of  her  mistress  :  even  so  our  eyes  wait 
upon  the  Lord  our  God,  until  he  have  mercy  upon  us. 

3  Have  mercy  upon  us,  O  Lord,  have  mercy  upon 
us  :  for  we  are  utterly  despised. 

4  Our  soul  is  filled  with  the  scornful  reproof  of  the 
wealthy  :  and  with  the  despitefulness  of  the  proud. 


A  gradual  psalm  (vide  c.\x. ). 

This  psalm  was  the  last  said 
at  the  gallows  by  "the  blessed  " 
William  Hart,  one  of  tlie  many 
Romanist  victims  of  Elizabeth's 
reign,  who  was  hung  at  York, 
1583,  for  denying  the  supre- 
macy, and  suspected   treason. 

Latins. — Tuesday  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  evening. 


It  was  not  uncommonly  used 
as  an  antidote  to  death.  Vicars 
(vide  l.\iv. )  paraphrased  it,  on 
the  other  hand,  as  a  psalm  of 
"  thanksgiving  for  the  great 
deliverance  from  the  Popish 
Powder  Plot." 


Day^^  PSALM  CXXV  Morning  Prayer 


PSAliM  QXXIV.     Nki  qiiia  Dominus. 

IF  the  Lord  himself  had  not  been  on  our  side,  now 
may  Israel  say  :  if  the  Lord  himself  had  not  been 
on  our  side,  when  men  rose  up  against  us ; 

2  They  had  swallowed  us  up  quick  :  when  they  were 
so  wrathfully  displeased  at  us. 

3  Yea,  the  waters  had  drowned  us  :  and  the  stream 
had  gone  over  our  soul. 

4  The  deep  waters  of  the  proud  :  had  gone  even  over 
oirr  soul. 

5  But  praised  be  the  Lord  :  who  hath  not  given  us 
over  for  a  prey  unto  their  teeth. 

6  Our  soul  is  escaped  even  as  a  bird  out  of  the 
snare  of  the  fowler  :  the  snare  is  broken,  and  we  are 
delivered. 

7  Our  help  standeth  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord  :  who 
hath  made  heaven  and  earth. 

This  is  the  psalm  of  English         I'erse  6.      The    words    with 

Victory  at  Sea,  and  so  almost  which    the    Dutce    of    Gandia 

the  psalm  of  England  herself,  gave   up  his  great   possession 

It  ends  the  first  division  of  the  to  join    the   Society    of  Jesus 

gradual  psalms  (see  cxx. ).  (see  Ps.  cxiv  ) ;  and  the  dying 

The   proper  psalms   for    the  words  of  McCheyne,  the  Scotch 

Restoration  of  Charles  II.  were  Divine, 
cxxiv. ,  cxxvi. ,  cxxix. ,  and  cxviii. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  the  Mass  on  XXIII.  Sunday  after 

Trinity  (e) ;  Thanksgiving  for  a  Naval  Victory. 
Latins. — Tuesday  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  evening. 


PSALM  CXXV.     Qui  confidunt. 

THEY  that  put  their  trust  in  the  Lord  shall  be  even 
as  the  mount  Sion  :  which  may  not  be  removed, 
but  standeth  fast  for  ever. 

2  The  hills  stand  about  Jerusalem  :  even  so  standeth 
the  Lord  round  about  his  people,  from  this  time  fortli 
for  evermore. 

3  For  the  rod  of  the  ungodly  cometh  not  into  the 
lot  of  the  righteous  :  lest  tlie  righteous  put  their  hand 
unto  wickedness. 


Fveniiig  Prayer  PSALM  CXXVI  Day  27 

4  Do  well,  O  Lord  :  unto  those  that  are  good  and 
true  of  heart. 

5  As  for  such  as  turn  l)ack  unto  tlieir  own  wicked- 
ness :  the  Lord  shall  load  them  forth  with  the  evil- 
doers ;  but  peace  shall  be  upon  Israel. 

A  gradual  psalm  [vide  cxx. ).  "Of  vertuys  thereof  this  is  the 

In  those  old  dramas,  Coven-  pygth. 

try  mysteries,  the  Blessed  Vir-  It  mayketh  sowles  fayr,  that 

gin  Mary  enters  and  says  the  doth  it  say  : 

gradual  psalms,  with  this  pre-  Angelys  besteryd  to  help  us 

face  :  therwith  ; 

.,  vT         T      J    r^   J  J  It  lytenyth  therknenesse,  and 

Now    Lord    (jod,  dysspose  n  fi    j-     i 

'      ■'     ^  pullyth  divelys  away, 

me  to  prayour  f     j  :  } 

Tliat    I    may    sey   the    holy  In  these  dramas  the  gradual 

psalmes  of  Davyth  psalms  are  recommended  to  be 

Wheche  book  is  clepyd  the  said  in    memory  of   the    maid 

Sawtere  ;  Mary,  and  then  Maria  is  the 

That   I  may  preyse  the,  my  antiphon. 
God,  therwith. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  for  the  XXIV.  Sunday 

after  Trinity  (e). 
Latins. — Tuesday  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  evening. 


PSALM  CXXVI.     In  convertendo. 

WHEN    the   Lord   turned   again  the   captivity  of 
Sion  :  then  were  we  like  unto  them  that  dream. 

2  Then  was  our  mouth  filled  with  laughter  :  and  our 
tongue  with  joj'. 

3  Then  said  they  among  the  heathen  :  The  Lord 
hath  done  great  things  for  them. 

4  Yea,  the  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us 
already  :  whereof  we  rejoice. 

5  Turn  our  captivitj-,  0  Lord  :  as  the  rivers  in  the 
south. 

6  They  that  sow  in  tears  :  shall  reap  in  joy. 

7  He  that  now  goeth  on  his  way  weeping,  and 
beareth  forth  good  seed  :  shall  doubtless  come  again 
with  joy,  and  bring  his  sheaves  with  him. 

A  gradual  psalm  (see  cxx.).  fire    into    a    repository   which 

In  1653  Jeremy  Taylor  wrote  might  help  to  re-enkindle  the 

his  "  Life  of  Christ,"  "  desirous  Incense   when    it   shall    please 

to  put   a  portion  of  the   holy  God  Religion  shall  return  and 

203 


Day  2  J 


PSALM  CXXVII 


Evt'iiifis  Pi  aver 


all  his  servants  shall  sing  In 
convertendo  captivitatem  Sioii 
with  a  voice  of  eucharist." 

This  psalm  vifas  a  favourite 
with  thi  Abolitionists.  Sir 
Thomas  Fowell  Buxton,  the 
philanthropic    brewer,    quoted 

Latins. — Tuesday  Vespers  ;  Apostles  and  Evangelists. 
Greeks. — Friday  evening. 


the  second  verse  when  he  heard 
that  the  slaves  were  freed  and 
the  work  accomplished. 

Perhaps  a  favourite  of  Tliack- 
eray's  {vide  "Esmond,"  ii., 
chap.  6). 


PSALM  CXXVII.     Nisi  Dominm. 

EXCEPT  the  Loi'd  build  the  house  :  their  labour  is 
but  lost  that  build  it. 

2  Except  the  Lord  keep  the  city  :  the  watchman 
waketh  but  in  vain. 

3  It  is  but  lost  labour  that  ye  haste  to  rise  up  early, 
and  so  late  take  rest,  and  eat  the  bread  of  carefulness  : 
for  so  he  giveth  his  beloved  sleep. 

4  Lo,  children  and  the  fruit  of  the  womb  :  are  an 
heritage  and  gift  that  conieth  of  the  Lord. 

5  Like  as  the  arrows  in  the  hand  of  the  giant  :  even 
so  are  the  young  children. 

6  Happy  is  the  man  that  hath  his  quiver  full  of 
them  :  they  shall  not  be  ashamed  when  they  speak 
with  their  enemies  in  the  gate. 


A  gradual  psalm  {vide  cxx.). 

This  was  the  psalm  which 
Clement  III.  used  in  his  exhor- 
tation to  the  English  Bishops 
to  succour  the  Holy  Land. 
Upon  this  our  Richard  Cceur 
de  Lion  took  the  cross. 

.Yisi  Dominies  friistra  is  the 
motto  of  several  noble  families, 
e.g..  Baron  Rawdon  and  the 
^loira  family  and  of  the  Comp- 
tons.  It  is  also  a  very  common 
old  house  motto,  e.g.,  it  is 
over  the  Cameronian  Meeting 
House  in  Edinburgh.  It  is  the 
motto  of  that  city  itself.  It  is 
the  legend  over  the  chaplain's 
door  to  the  Tower  Chapel  dedi- 
cated to  St.  Peter  ad  Vincula. 
It  is  also  a  common  ring  and 
trencher  motto. 


When  Ferdinand  II.  fled 
from  his  kingdom  of  Naples, 
he  chanted  this  psalm  again 
and  again  across  the  bay,  and 
continued  it  until  he  came  to 
Ischia. 

Verse  3.  Mrs.  Browning's 
favourite  verse. 

"Of  all  the  thoughts  of  God 

that  are 
Home     inward     into    souls 

afar, 
.Along  the   Psalmist's  music 

deep, 
Now  tell  me,  if  that  any  is 
For  gift  or  grace  surpassing 

this— 
'  He    giveth      His     beloved 

sleep ']>" 


204 


Evening  J'njytr  PSALM  CXXVIII  J >,iy  27 

l.ittirgical  use.  —  Introit  for  the  Mass  on  the  XXV.  Sunday 
after  Trinity  (e).     The  Churching  of  Women. 

Latins. — Wednesday  Vespers  ;  Circumcision  ;  Feasts  of  Our 
Lady. 

^7/rf,{'j-.— Friday  evening. 


PSALM  CXXVIII.     Ihatl  omnes. 

BLESSED  are  all  they  that  fear  the  Lord  :  and 
walk  ill  his  ways. 

2  For  thou  shalt  eat  the  labours  of  thine  hands  :  O 
widl  is  thee,  and  happy  shalt  thon  be. 

3  Tliy  wife  shall  be  as  the  fruitful  vine  :  upon  the 
walls  of  thine  house. 

4  Thy  children  like  the  olive-branches  :  round  about 
thy  table. 

5  Lo,  thus  shall  the  man  be  blessed  :  that  feareth 
the  Lord. 

6  The  Lord  from  out  of  Sion  shall  so  bless  thee  : 
that  thou  shalt  see  Jerusalem  in  prosperity  all  thy  life 
long. 

7  Yea,  that  thou  shalt  see  thy  children's  children  : 
and  peace  upon  Israel. 

A  gradual  psalm  (vide  cxx. ).  to  scour  the  saucepans  when  it 

rerse  2.      Piers   Ploughman  was  his  work  to  cook  for  the 

quotes  this  to  the  idle  classes  brethren.      St.   Bernard  called 

to  show  that  God  means  all  to  him  up,  and  gave  him  a  tre- 

work  ;   "in  dyking  or  delving  mendous  rebuke,   not  only  on 

or  travailling  in  prayers,  con-  the  dangerous  and  outrageous 

templative  life  or  active,  Christ  sin    of    pride,    but    upon    the 

would    men    wrought.        The  absolute  necessity  of  living  by 

'  freke  '  (or  manly  fellow)  that  labour,      enjoined      upon     all 

feedeth  himself  with  his  faith-  Christian    men  ;     and   pointed 

ful  labour,  he  is  blessed  by  the  out   this   verse  to  him,  as  an 

hook  in  body  and  soul."  evidence  that  it  was  a  law,  even 

A    certain    monk,    of    good  before  the  Word  took  our  flesh 

birth,  thought  it  beneath  him  to  serve  us. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  on  St.  Thomas's  Day  (e)  ; 

a  Marriage  psalm. 
Latins. — Wednesday  Vespers. 
(ireeks. — Friday  evening  ;   Marriages. 


205 


Day  27  PSALM  CXXX  Evening  Prayer 

PSALM  CXXIX.     Smj^e,  expugnaverunt. 

MANY  a  time  have  they  fought  against  me  from  my 
youth  up  :  may  Israel  now  say. 

2  Yea,  many  a  time  have  tliey  vexed  me  from  my 
youth  up  :  but  they  have  not  prevailed  against  me. 

3  The  plowers  plowed  upon  my  back  :  and  made 
long  furrows. 

4  But  the  righteous  Lord  :  hath  hewn  the  snares  of 
the  ungodly  in  pieces. 

5  Let  them  be  confounded  and  turned  backward  :  as 
many  as  have  evil  will  at  Sion. 

6  Let  them  be  even  as  the  grass  growing  upon  the 
house-tops  :  which  withereth  afore  it  be  plucked  up ; 

7  Whereof  the  mower  fiUeth  not  his  hand  :  neither 
he  that  bizideth  up  the  sheaves  his  bosom. 

8  So  that  they  who  go  by  say  not  so  much  as,  The 
Lord  prosper  you  :  we  wish  you  good  luck  in  the  Name 
of  the  Lord. 

In  the  legends  of  the   Holy  the    gradual    psalms.       There 

Rood,  the  mediaeval  poets  told  they  grew  into  one  great  tree, 

how   the   History  of  Christ  is  under  which  he  wrote  .l/zATtw 

the   story   of  mankind.      The  and   all   the    "  sawter   buke "  ; 

Rood  sprang  from  three  seeds  and  would  have  built  there  the 

Adain  brought  with  him  from  temple,  had  not  God  forbidden 

Paradise.      Moses  planted  the  it.     But  he  circled  the  tree  with 

little  trees  in  Tabor,  and  David  silver,  and  saw  it  wax  very  great 

brought    them    with    joy    and  in  his  day. 
melody  into  Jerusalem,  singing 

Liturgical  use. — Iniroit  for  St.  Andrew's  Day  (e). 
Latins. — Wednesday  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  evening. 

PSALM  CXXX.     Deprofundis. 

OUT  of  the  deep  have  I  called  unto  thee,  O  Lord  : 
Lord,  hear  my  voice. 

2  O  let  thine  ears  consider  well  :  the  Aoice  of  my 
complaint. 

3  If  tiiou,  Lord,  wilt  be  extreme  to  mark  what  is 
done  amiss  :  O  Lord,  who  may  abide  it  ? 

4  For  there  is  mercy  with  thee  :  therefore  shall  thou 
be  feared. 

206 


Evciiin^^  Prayer 


PSALM  CXXXI 


Day  27 


5  I  look  for  the  Lord  ;  my  soul  doth  wait  for  him  : 
in  his  word  is  my  tryst. 

6  My  soul  rieeth  unto  the  Lord  :  before  the  morning 
watch,  I  say,  before  the  morning  watch. 

7  0  Israel,  trust  in   the  Lord,  for  with  the  Lord 
there  is  mercy  :  and  with  him  is  plenteous  redemption. 

8  And  he  shall  redeem  Israel  :  from  all  his  sins. 


Tliis  is  the  sixth  penitential 
psahii  —  these  are  Nos.  vi. , 
xxxii. ,  xx'xviii.,  \\.,  cii.,  cxxx., 
and  cxUii. — and  is  the  antidote 
to  the  deadly  sin  of  Envy. 

It  is  also  a  gradual  psalm 
(see  cxx.). 

This  is  the  last  psalm  of 
Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  of 
"Blessed"  John  Nelson,  the 
Romanist,  at  Tyburn  in  1578, 
and  is  also  among  the  last 
words  of  the  judicious  Richard 
Hooker,  the  author  of  the 
"  Ecclesiastical  Polity." 

Phineas  Fletcher's  (1581- 
1650)  translation  of  (or  rather 
meditation  upon)  this  psalm  is 
one  of  the  best  of  that  author's 
shorter  pieces  : 


"As  a    watchman   waits    for 
day, 
And  looks    for  light  and 
looks  again. 
When  the   night  grows  old 
and  gray. 
To   be    relieved    he    calls 
amain  ; 
So   look,    so  wait,    so    long 

mine  eyes. 
To  see   my   Lord,  my   Sun 
arise." 

Jeremy  Taylor  quotes  it  as 
the  psalm  of  psalms  for  the 
sick.  His  "  Holy  Dying  "  was 
the  book  which  was  read 
to  the  poet  Keats  in  his  last 
days.  ■ 


Liturgical  use. — Introit    for    the    Mass    on    H.    Sunday   in 

Lent  (e)  ;  Ash  Wednesday  evening. 
Latins. — Wednesday   Vespers  ;    going    and    returning    from 

funerals  ;  2nd  Vespers  for  Christmas. 
Greeks. — Friday  evening  ;  daily  Evensong. 


PSALM  CXXXI.     Domine,  -non  est. 

LORD,  I   am  not  high-minded   :   I  have  no  proud 
looks. 

2  I  do  not  exercise  myself  in  great  matters  :  which 
are  too  high  for  me. 

3  But  I  refrain  my  soul,  and  keep  it  low,  like  as  a 
child  that  is  weaned  from  his  mother  :  yea,  my  soul  is 
e\en  as  a  weaned  child. 

4  O  Israel,  trust  in  the  Lord  :  from  this  time  forth 
for  evermore. 

207 


Day2&  PSALM  CXXXII  Morning  Prayer 

A  gradual  psalm  (see  cxx.).        Witlier  notes  it  thus:    "  Dod 

Verse  2.  In  1625,  a  pious  but  the  silkman's  late  ridiculous 
unpoetical  silk  merchant  named  translation  of  the  Psalms  was, 
Dod  was  forcibly  reminded  of  by  authority,  worthily  con- 
this   verse   by  the   authorities,     damned  to  the  fire." 

Liturgical  use. — The  Introit  to  the  Mass  on  Lady  Day  (e). 

Latins. — Wednesday  Vespers. 

Greeks. — Friday  evening. 


PSALM  CXXXII.     Memento,  Domine. 

LORD,  reniembei'  David  :  and  all  his  trouble. 
2  How  he  sware  unto  the  Lord  :  and  vowed  a 
vow  unto  the  Almighty  God  of  Jacob ; 

3  I  will  not  come  within  the  tabernacle  of  mine 
house  :  nor  climb  up  into  my  bed ; 

4  I  will  not  suffer  mine  eyes  to  sleep,  nor  mine  eye- 
lids to  slumber  :  neither  the  temples  of  my  head  to 
take  any  rest ; 

5  Until  I  find  out  a  place  for  the  temple  of  the  Lord  : 
an  habitation  for  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob. 

6  Lo,  we  heard  of  the  same  at  Ephrata  :  and  found 
it  in  the  wood. 

7  We  will  go  into  his  tabernacle  :  and  fall  low  on 
our  knees  before  his  footstool. 

8  Arise,  O  Lord,  into  thy  resting-place  :  thou,  and 
the  ark  of  thy  strength. 

9  Let  thy  priests  be  clothed  with  righteousness  :  and 
let  thy  saints  sing  with  joyfulness. 

10  For  thy  servant  David's  sake  :  turn  not  away  the 
presence  of  thine  Anointed. 

1 1  The  Lord  hath  made  a  faithful  oath  unto  David  : 
and  he  shall  not  shrink  from  it ; 

1 2  Of  the  fruit  of  thy  body  :  shall  I  set  upon  thy  seat. 

13  If  thy  children  will  keep  mj'  covenant,  and  my 
testimonies  that  I  sliall  learn  them  :  their  children  also 
shall  sit  upon  thy  seat  for  evermore. 

14  For  the  Lord  hath  chosen  Sion  to  be  an  habita- 
tion for  himself  :  he  hath  longed  for  her. 

1 5  Tiiis  shall  be  my  rest  for  ever  :  here  will  I  dwell, 
for  I  have  a  delight  therein. 

16  I  will  bless  her  victuals  with  increase  :  and  will 
satisfy  her  poor  witli  bread. 

208 


Mom in^'  Prayer  PSALM  CXXXIII  D.iy  2^ 

\y  I  will   deck  her  priests  with  liealth  :  and  her 
saints  shall  rejoice  and  sing. 

18  There  shall  I  make  the  horn  of  David  to  flourish  : 
I  have  ordained  a  lantern  for  mine  Anointed. 

19  As   for   his   enemies,  I    shall  clothe   them  with 
shame  :  but  upon  himself  shall  his  crown  flourish. 

A  gradual  psalm  (see  cxx.).  Christo  ineo.      I  have  ordained 

I'erses  ^  <7iid  ^.  The  epitaph  a  lantern  for  my  Clirist.    These 

over   good   Bishop    Hacket   of  were  the  last  words  of  Cyril  of 

Lichfield.  Alexandria,  whose  warts  Kings- 

/  tv'.ffi5.  St.ThomisAquinas  ley  has  drawn  in  strong  relief 

was  seized  with  a  fever  at  Castle  in   "  Hypatia,"    rather   adding 

Maganza,    but    would    not    be  to    them  than    otherwise,    and 

stayed,  and  pushed  on  to  Fossa  hardly      even      outlining      the 

Xuova,    a    Cistercian    Abbey,  brave  rugged  face  which  they 

near  Terracina,   to   die  there,  blemished.     Perhaps  St.  Cyril 

As  he  was  carried  in  he  repeated  used    the  words   because  they 

these  words  with  rapture.     He  were  a  common  motto  then  and 

mused    also    much    upon    St.  since,  for  St.  John  the  Baptist. 
Augustine's     words:      "Then  Verse  19.    Inimicos  eius  in- 

shall   I   truly  live,  when   I  shall  duam  confiisione.    These  words 

be  fulfilled  with  Thy  love  :  now  were  engraved  on  the  English 

I  am   a  burden  to  myself,  be-  shilling  of  King  Edward  VL, 

cause.   Lord,  I  am  not  full  of  minted  in  1549.     See   in   con- 

Thee."     He  died  on  the  floor  trast  (Psalm  lii.  7)  Edward  HL's 

on  ashes,  March  7,  1274.  motto. 

Verse  18.    Paravi  lucernam 

Liturgical  use. — Christmas  evening. 

Latins. — Thursday  Vespers. 

Greeks. — Last  psalm  for  Friday  evening. 


PSALM  CXXXIII.     Ecce  quam,  bonum  ! 

BEHOLD,  how  good  and  joyful  a  thing  it  is  :  brethren, 
to  dwell  together  in  unity. 

2  It  is  like  the  precious  ointment  upon  the  head, 
that  ran  down  unto  the  beard  :  even  unto  Aaron's 
beard,  and  went  down  to  the  skirts  of  his  clothing. 

3  Like  as  the  dew  of  Hermon  :  which  fell  upon  the 
hill  of  Sion. 

4  For  there  the  Lord  promised  h's  blessing  :  and  life 
for  evermore. 

A  gradual  psalm  (see  cxx.).     wrote   his   Song    to   David   in 
Christopher      -Smart,     who       a    madhouse,    and    printed    it 

209  P 


Day  2S  PSALM  CXXXV  Morning  Prayer 

with  a  key  on  the  panels  of  the  Sweet  is  the  lily's  silver  bell, 
wall  (1754-6),  thus  alludes  to  And  sweet  the  wakeful  tapers' 
this  psalm  :  smell 

That  watch  for  early  prayer." 

"  Sweet  is  the  dew  that   falls  This  is  the  psalm  which  the 

betimes  commander  of  the  Greely  Ex- 

And   drops   upon    the    leafy  pedition  read  to  his  men,  when 

limes,  they  wintered  in  the  dark  Arctic 

Sweet,     Hermon's     fr,)grant  regions  for  a  night  which  lasted 

air  :  twenty  weeks. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  of  SS.  Philip  and  James  (e) . 

Latins. — Thursday  Vespers. 

Greeks. — Friday  morning; 

PSALM  CXXXIV.     Ecce  nunc. 

BEHOLD  now,  praise  the  Lord  :  all  ye  servants  of 
the  Lord ; 

2  Ye  that  by  night  stand  in  the  lioiise  of  the  Lord  : 
even  in  the  courts  of  the  house  of  our  God. 

3  Lift  up  your  hands  in  the  sanctuary  :  and  praise 
the  Lord. 

4  The  Lord  that  made  heaven  and  earth  :  give  thee 
blessing  out  of  Sion. 

This  is  the  last  of  the  gradual  Archbishop  of  York,  washed 
psalms.  The  pilgrims  have  now  the  feet  of  the  poor  and  recited 
reached  the  Temple,  and  hear  the  gradual  psalms.  As  they 
the  Levites  intoning  the  praises  rose  to  thank  him  and  while  he 
of  God.  was  still  saying  the  Gloria,  he 

On  the  morning  of  his  death  fell  dead  at  the  altar,  his  last 
(February  28,  992),  St.  Oswald,     word  being  Sancto. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  for  the  l^urification  (e). 

Latins. — The  last  psalm  in  daily  Compline. 

Greeks. — Friday  morning  ;  daily  Nocturns. 

PSALM  CXXXV.     Laudate  Nomen. 

PRAISE  the  Lord,  laud  ye  the  Name  of  the  Lord  : 

praise  it,  O  ye  servants  of  the  Lord  ; 
Ye  that  stand  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  :  in  the 
courts  of  the  house  of  our  God. 

3  O  praise  the  Lord,  for  the  Lord  is  gracious  :  O  sing 
praises  unto  his  Name,  for  it  is  lovely. 

4  For  why  '?  tlie  Lord  hath  chosen  Jacob  unto  him- 
self :  and  Israel  for  his  own  possession. 

5  For  I  know  that  the  Lord  is  great  :  and  that  our 
Lord  is  above  all  gods. 


0 


A/or/tinx  J'myer  I'-SALM  CXXXV  Air  28 

6  Whatsoover  the  Lord  pleased,  that  did  he  in  heaven, 
and  in  eartli  :  and  in  the  sea,  and  in  all  deep  places. 

7  He  bringeth  forth  the  clouds  from  the  ends  of  the 
world  :  and  sendeth  forth  liglitnings  with  the  rain, 
bringing  the  winds  out  of  his  treasures. 

8  He  smote  the  first-born  of  Egypt  :  both  of  man 
and  beast. 

9  He  hath  sent  tokens  and  wonders  into  the  midst 
of  thee,  O  thou  land  of  Egypt  :  upon  Pharaoh,  and  all 
his  servants. 

10  He  smote  di\  ers  nations  :  and  slew  mighty  kings  ; 

1 1  Selion  king  of  the  Amorites,  and  Og  the  king  of 
IJasan  :  and  all  the  kingdoms  of  Canaan  ; 

12  And  gave  their  land  to  be  an  heritage  :  even  an 
heritage  unto  Israel  his  people. 

13  Thj-  Name,  O  liord,  endureth  for  ever  :  so  doth 
thy  memorial.  O  Lord,  from  one  generation  to  another. 

14  For  the  Lord  will  avenge  his  people  :  and  be 
gracious  unto  his  servants. 

15  As  for  the  images  of  the  heathen,  they  are  but 
silver  and  gold  :  the  work  of  men's  hands. 

16  They  have  mouths,  and  speak  not  :  eyes  have 
they,  but  they  see  not. 

17  They  have  ears,  and  yet  they  hear  not  :  neither 
is  there  any  breath  in  their  mouths. 

1 8  They  that  make  them  are  like  unto  them  :  and 
so  are  all  they  that  put  their  trust  in  them. 

19  Praise  the  Lord,  ye  house  of  Israel  :  praise  the 
Lord,  ye  house  of  Aaron. 

20  Praise  the  Lord,  ye  house  of  Levi  :  ye  that  fear 
the  Lord,  praise  the  Lord. 

21  Praised  be  the  Lord  out  of  Sion  :  who  dwelleth 
at  Jerusalem. 

On  October  28.  1704,  John  with,  "Cease  now,"  and  sud- 
Locke,  the  philosopher,  died  denly  died, 
at  Oates,  in  Essex,  while  the  This  psalm  and  the  next  form 
psiilms  for  the  day  were  being  the  Great  Hallel  of  Jewish  wor- 
read  to  him,  which  had  been  ship,  as  opposed  to  the  (Mizric) 
done  throughout  his  sickness.  Egyptian  Hallel.  Both  are  re- 
He  interrupted  Lady  Masham,  cited  on  the  Passover  evenings, 
who  was  reading  them  to  him, 

Latins. — Thursday  Vespers. 
Greeks.  —  Friday  morn  i  n  g. 

211 


DayzZ  PSALM  CXXXVI  liven i n^:  Prayer 

PSALM  CXXXVI.     Confitemlni. 

OGIVE  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is  gracious  : 
and  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

2  O  give  thanks  unto  tlie  God  of  all  gods  :  for  his 
mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

3  O  thank  the  Lord  of  all  lords  :  for  his  mercy  en- 
dureth for  ever. 

4  Who  only  doeth  great  wonders  :  for  his  mercy 
endureth  for  ever. 

5  Who  by  his  excellent  wisdom  made  the  heavens  : 
for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

6  Who  laid  out  the  earth  above  the  waters  :  for  his 
mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

7  Who  hath  made  great  lights  :  for  his  mercy  en- 
dureth for  ever ; 

8  The  sun  to  rule  the  day  :  for  his  mercy  enduretli 
for  ever ; 

9  The  moon  and  the  stars  to  govern  the  night  :  for 
his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

10  Who  smote  Egypt  with  their  first-born  :  for  his 
mercy  endureth  for  ever  ; 

1 1  And  brought  out  Israel  from  among  them  :  for 
his  mercy  endureth  for  ever  ; 

12  With  a  mighty  hand,  and  stretched  out  arm  :  for 
his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

13  Who  divided  the  Red  sea  in  two  parts  :  for  his 
mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

14  And  made  Israel  to  go  through  the  midst  of  it  : 
for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

15  But  as  for  Pharaoh  and  his  host,  he  overthrew 
them  in  the  Red  sea  :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

16  Who  led  his  people  through  the  wilderness  :  for 
his  mercy  endureth  for  e^•er. 

17  Who  smote  great  kings  :  for  his  merc^'  endureth 
for  ever ; 

18  Yea,  and  slew  mighty  kings  :  for  his  mercj'  en- 
dureth for  ever  ; 

19  Sehon   king   of   the    Amorites    :    for   his   mercy 
endureth  for  ever ; 

20  And  Og  tlie  king  of  Basan  :  for  his  mercy  en- 
dureth for  ever ; 


livening  Prayer  PSALMCXXXVII  DayiA 

21  And  gave  away  their  land  for  an  lieritage  :  for 
liis  mercy  enduretli  for  ever  ; 

22  Even  for  an  heritage  unto  Israel  his  servant  :  for 
his  mercy  enduretli  for  ever. 

23  Who  remembered  us  when  we  were  in  trouble  : 
for  his  mercy  enduretli  for  ever ; 

24  And  hath  delivered  us  from  our  enemies  :  for  his 
mercy  enduretli  for  e\er. 

25  Who  giveth  food  to  all  Hesh  :  for  his  mercy  en- 
duretli for  ever. 

26  C)  give  thanks  luito  the  God  of  heaven  :  for  his 
mercy  enduretli  for  ever. 

27  O  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  of  lords  :  for  his 
mercy  enduretli  for  ever. 

On   Febru.iry  8,  358,  .15  .St.  Draw    near   tliem,    then,    in 

Atlianasius  was  at  Ma^s  in  tiie  being  merciful  ; 

C'liurch     of    St.     Thomas,     at  Sweet  mercy  is  nobiHty's  true 

.\lexandria,    the    .\rians    bnrst  badge." 
in.      He  ordered  this  psalm  to 

be  sung,  but  before  it  was  over  How    magnificently    Milton, 

the  soldiers  had  begun  a  mas-  when  a  lad  of  only  fifteen  years, 

sacre,   and   with    difficulty   the  paraphrased    this    psalm    into 

saint  was  rescued  by  the  clergy  his    hymn,    "Let    us   with    a 

and  escaped  to  the  desert  and  gladsome  mind"  !  (1624). 

its  monks.  Verse  27.  The  French  Psalter 

Perhaps  Shakespeare  h.nd  this  is    the   only    other   one    which 

psalm  in  mind  when  he  wrote  :  contains  this  ve:se.     It  is  not 
found,     for    instance,     in     the 

"Wilt    thou    draw    near    the  .Authorized  Version. 
nature  of  the  gods  ? 

Latins. — Thuisday  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning. 


PSALM  CXXXVII.     Super Jiumimi. 

BY  the  waters  of  Babylon  we  sat  down  and  wept  : 
when  we  remembered  thee,  O  Sion. 

2  As  for  our  harps,  we  hanged  them  up  :  upon  the 
trees  that  are  tlierein. 

3  For  they  that  led  us  away  captive  required  of  us 
then  a  song,  and  melod}-,  in  our  heaviness  :  "  Sing  us 
one  of  the  songs  of  Sion." 

4  "  How  shall  we  sing  the  Lord's  song  :  in  a  strange 
land?" 


Day2&  PSALM  CXXXVIII  F.vcnius;  Praya 

5  If  I  forget  thee,  O  Jerusalem  :  let  my  right  hand 
forget  her  cunning. 

6  If  I  do  not  remember  thee,  let  my  tongue  cleave 
to  the  roof  of  my  mouth  :  j'ea,  if  T  prefer  not  Jeru- 
salem in  my  mirth. 

7  liemember  the  children  of  Edom,  O  Lord,  in  the 
day  of  Jerusalem  :  how  they  said, "Down  with  it,  down 
with  it,  even  to  the  ground." 

8  O  daughter  of  Babylon,  wasted  with  misery  :  yea, 
happy  shall  he  be  tliat  rewardeth  thee,  as  thou  hast 
served  us. 

9  Blessed  shall  he  be  that  taketh  thy  children  :  and 
throweth  them  against  the  stones. 

This  was  the  favourite  psahii  Bristol,  who  lost  his  estate  and 

of  Camoens,  of  Ciashaw,  and  his  country  when  he  sided  with 

of  Sir  Walter  Scott.  the  king,  died  an  exile  in  1653, 

In  1606,  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  and  was  buried  in  a  Paris  cab- 
was  a  slave  to  the  Turks,  bage-garden.  This  psalm  was 
captured  and  bought  by  an  a  favourite  of  his — as  it  was 
apostate.  The  Turkish  wife  with  many  pious  royalists  in 
of  his  master  asked  him  to  sing  their  exile  — and  he  turned  it 
the  praises  of  his  God,  and,  into  verses  beginning  : 
"  being  a  man  full  of  the  spirit 

of  the  psalms,"  he  sang  with  "Sitting  by  y  streams  that  glide 

tears  Super Jlumiiia  and  Salve  Down    by    Babell's    towering 

Regina.     The  woman  was  so  wall." 
touched  that  she  upbraided  her 

husband  with  his  apostasy,  who  This  was  set  to  music,  and  pub- 

not  only  set  St.  Vincent  free,  lished.  after  the  Restoration,  in 

but    embarked   with    him    for  Clifford's  Services,  among  the 

Aigues-Mortes.  "  .Antliems    usually    sung     in 

Sir    John     Digby,     Earl    of  Cathedrals." 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  St.  Luke's  Mass  (e). 
Latins. — Thursday  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning. 


PSALM  CXXXVIII.     Confdehnr  tibi. 

I  WILL  give  thanks  unto  thee,  0   Lord,  with  my 
whole    heart  :  even   before   the    gods  will  I   sing 
praise  unto  thee. 

2  I  will  worship  toward  tliy  lioly  temple,  and  praise 
thy  Name,  because  of  thy  loving-kindness  and  trutli  : 
for  thou  hast  magnified  tliy  Name,  and  thy  Word, 
above  all  things. 

214 


Morning  Prayer  PSALM  CXXXIX  Day  i^ 

3  When  I  called  upon  thee,  thou  heardest  nio  :  and 
enduedst  my  soul  with  much  strength. 

4  All  the  kings  of  the  earth  shall  praise  thee,  0 
Lord  :  for  they  liave  heard  tlie  words  of  tliy  mouth. 

5  Yea,  they  shall  sing  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord  :  that 
great  is  the  glory  of  the  Lord. 

6  For  though  the  Lord  be  high,  yet  hath  he  respect 
unto  the  lowly  :  as  for  the  proud,  he  beholdeth  them 
afar  otl'. 

7  Though  I  walk  in  the  midst  of  trouble,  yet  slialt 
thou  refresh  me  :  thou  shalt  stretch  forth  thy  hand 
upon  the  furiousness  of  mine  enemies,  and  thy  right 
hand  shall  save  me. 

8  The  Lord  shall  make  good  his  loving-kindness 
toward  me  :  yea,  thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  eudureth  for 
ever ;  despise  not  then  the  works  of  thine  own  hands. 

In  Antioch  of  Syria  there  was  interruption  by  relays  of  these 

an  order  of  monks,  in  tlie  days  moni<s.      At    the  end   of    the 

of  Eusebius,  who  were  founded  fourth      century      Corbilla,     a 

to  keep  up  the  laiis  pcrennis  of  Syrian  monk,  probably  one  of 

ceaseless  psalmody.      Day  and  them,  founded  a  similar  monns- 

night  throughout  the  year  the  tery  on  Psalmody  Island,  in  the 

Psalms   were   chanted   without  diocese  of  Nismes. 

Liturgical  use.  —  Introit  to  the  Mass  of  the  Conversion  of  St. 

Paul  (e). 
Latins. — Friday  at  Vespers  ;  St.  Michael  and  .Ml  .A.ngels. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning. 


PSALM  CXXXIX.     Domine,  probasti. 

OLORD,  thou  hast  searched  me  out,  and  known 
me  :  thou  knowest  my  down-sitting,  and  mine 
uprising ;  thou  understandest  my  thoughts  long  before. 

2  Thou  art  about  my  path,  and  about  my  bed  :  and 
spiest  out  all  my  ways. 

3  For  lo,  there  is  not  a  word  in  my  tongue  :  but 
thou,  O  Lord,  knowest  it  altogether. 

4  Thou  hast  fashioned  me  behind  and  before  :  and 
laid  thine  hand  upon  me. 

5  Such  knowledge  is  too  wonderful  and  excellent  for 
me  :  I  cannot  attain  unto  it. 

6  Whither   shall   I   go  then   from   thy  Spirit    :    or 
whither  shall  I  go  then  from  thy  presence  ? 

215 


Dayzg  PSAI.M  CXXXIX  Morning  Prayer 

7  If  I  climb  up  into  heaven,  thou  art  there  :  if  I  go 
down  to  hell,  thou  art  there  also. 

8  If  I  take  the  wings  of  the  morning  :  and  remain 
in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea  ; 

9  Even  there  also  shall  thy  hand  lead  me  :  and  thy 
right  hand  shall  hold  me. 

10  If  I  say,  "  Peradventure  the  darkness  shall  cover 
me  "  :  then  shall  my  night  be  turned  to  day. 

11  Yea,  the  darkness  is  no  darkness  with  thee,  but 
the  night  is  as  clear  as  the  day  :  the  darkness  and  light 
to  thee  are  both  alike. 

1 2  For  my  reins  are  thine  :  thou  hast  covered  me  in 
my  mother's  womb. 

13  I  will  gi\e  thanks  unto  thee,  for  I  am  fearfully 
and  wonderfully  made  :  marvellous  are  thy  works,  and 
that  my  soul  knoweth  right  well. 

14  My  bones  are  not  hid  from  thee  :  though  I  be 
made  secretly,  and  fashioned  beneath  in  the  earth. 

15  Thine  eyes  did  see  my  substance,  yet  being  im- 
perfect :  and  in  thy  book  were  all  my  members  written  ; 

16  ^Yhich  daj-  by  day  were  fashioned  :  when  as  yet 
there  was  none  of  them. 

17  How  dear  are  thy  counsels  unto  me,  0  God  :  O 
how  great  is  the  sum  of  them  ! 

18  If  I  tell  them,  they  are  more  in  number  than  the 
sand  :  when  I  wake  up  I  am  present  with  thee. 

19  "Wilt  thou  not  slay  the  wicked,  O  God  :  depart 
from  me,  ye  blood-thirsty  men. 

20  For  they  speak  unrighteously  against  thee  :  and 
thine  enemies  take  thy  Name  in  vain. 

21  Do  not  I  hate  them,  0  Lord,  that  hate  thee  :  and 
am  not  I  grieved  with  those  that  rise  up  against  thee  ? 

22  Yea,  I  hate  them  riglit  sore  :  even  as  though 
they  were  mine  enemies. 

23  Try  me,  0  God,  and  seek  the  ground  of  my 
heart  :  prove  me,  and  examine  my  thoughts. 

24  Look  well  if  there  be  any  way  of  wickedness  in 
me  :  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting. 

In  many  parts  of  the  country  great -grandniotliers    were    no 

tlit-re    is   a   good    and   ancient  doubt  strengthened  and  calmed 

custom  among  the  old  wives,  of  by  its  words  in  their  hours  of 

reading  this  psalm  to  women  in  need  and  peril, 

labour.    Our  grandmothers  and  It  was  a  favourite  psalm  of 

21^ 


Moniing  Prayer             I'SALM  CXI.                                    Day  2g 

the  great  Emperor  Charle-  flections  oa  God's  omniscience 
luagne,  who  had,  like  m;iny  nnd  omnipresence,  which  are 
other  soltliers,  a  special  devo-  celebrated  in  as  noble  strains 
tion  to  the  Holy  Ghost.  Both  of  poetry  as  any  other  I  ever 
tiie  collect,  "Almighty  God,  met  with,  either  sacred  or  pro- 
unto  whoMi  all  hearts  be  fane.  The  other  kind  of  hypo- 
opened,"  and  the  great  hymn,  crisy,  whereby  a  man  deceives 
I'cni  Creator  ("Come,  Holy  himself,  is  intimated  in  the  two 
Ghost,  our  souls  inspire  "),  are  last  verses,  where  the  Psalmist 
said  to  have  been  made  by  him.  addresses  himself  to  the  great 
They  both  echo  this  psalm.  Searcher  of  hearts  in  that 
"  I  shall  conclude  my  essay"  emphatical  petition,  '  Try  me,' 
(says  Addison ,  in  the  Spectator,  etc. " 

June  7,  1712)  "with  observing  So  the  C?(5j^;tr/'(6o) :"  Where 

that  the  two  kinds  of  hypocrisy  can  we  meet  a  more  touching 

I  have  here  spoken  of,  namely,  description  of  God's  omnipre- 

that  of  deceiving  the  world  and  sence  and  providence  than  the 

that  of  imposing  on  ourselves,  139th  Psalm  ?" 

are    touched    with     wonderful  I'erseg.    A  favourite  verse  of 

beauty  in  the  139th  psalm.  The  the    poor    missionary    Captain 

folly  of  the  first  kind  of  hypo-  Gardiner  (vii/e  Ps.  xvii. ). 
crisy  is  there  set  forth   by  re- 

Latins, — Friday  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning. 


PSALM  CXL.     Eripe  me,  Domine. 

DELIVEE  me,  0  Lord,  from   the  evil  man  :  and 
preserve  me  from  the  wicked  man. 

2  Who  imat^fine  mischief  in  their  hearts  :  and  stir 
up  strife  all  the  da^-  long. 

3  They  have  sharpened  their  tongues  like  a  serpent  : 
adder's  poison  is  under  their  lips. 

4  Keep  me,  O  Lord,  from  the  hands  of  the  ungodly  : 
preserve  me  from  the  wicked  men,  who  are  purposed 
to  overthrow  my  goings. 

5  The  proud  have  laid  a  snare  for  me,  and  spread  a 
net  abroad  with  cords  :  yea,  and  set  traps  in  my  way. 

6  I  said  unto  the  Lord,  "Thou  art  my  God"  :  hear 
the  voice  of  my  prayers,  O  Lord. 

7  0  Lord  God,  thou  strength  of  my  health  :  thou 
hast  covered  my  head  in  the  day  of  battle. 

8  Let  not  the  ungodly  have  his  desire,  O  Lord  :  let 
not  his  mischievous  imagination  prosper,  lest  they  be 
too  proud. 

217 


Diiy  29  PSALM  CXLI  MorniiiiJ  Prayer 

9  Let  the  mischief  of  their  own  hps  fall  upon  the 
head  of  them  :  that  compass  me  about. 

10  Let  hot  burning  coals  fall  upon  them  :  let  them 
be  cast  into  the  lire,  and  into  the  pit,  that  they  never 
rise  up  again. 

1 1  A  man  full  of  words  shall  not  prosper  upon  the 
earth  :  evil  shall  hunt  the  wicked  person  to  overthrow 
him. 

12  Sure  I  am  that  the  Lord  will  avenge  the  poor  : 
and  maintain  the  cause  of  the  helpless. 

13  The  righteous  also  shall  give  thanks  unto  thy 
Name  :  and  the  just  shall  continue  in  thy  sight. 

"  The  Nicolaitans,  Gnostics,  who  thinks  it  a  question  more 
and  Manichseans,"  says  I'hilo-  curiousthaninipoitant,  whether 
stratus,  "denied  David  alto-  David  had  a  hand  in  any  of 
gether  to  be  a  proph:;t  ;  and  the  Psahns,  is  yet  "unable  to 
Paul  of  Saniosata  suppressed  fit  in  any  with  iiis  life"  ;  but 
the  Psahns  and  those  hymns  Professor  Kirkpatrick,  in  his 
which  the  Christians  sang  in  summary  of  critical  work,  ap- 
praise of  Christ.  He  wished  plauded  by  Dr.  Salmond  in  the 
to  substitute  poems  in  his  own  Crifical  Revietv,  still  assigns 
honour,  it  was  said."  "  tiie  foundation  of  the  Psalter 

Professor  Robertson  Smith,  to  David." 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  for  .St.    Matthew's  Day 

(e). 
Z,a/j«/.— Friday  Vespers;  Maundy  Thursday. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning  ;   Mesorion  of  the  Ninth  hour. 


PSALM  CXLT,     Doinine,  damavL 

LORD,   I  call  upon  thee,  haste  thee  unto  me  :  and 
consider  my  voice  when  I  cry  unto  thee. 

2  Let  my  prayer  be  set  forth  in  thy  sight  as  tlie 
incense  :  and  let  the  lifting  up  of  my  hands  be  an 
evening  sacrifice. 

3  Set  a  watch,  O  Lord,  before  my  mouth  :  and  keep 
the  door  of  my  lips. 

4  O  let  not  mine  heart  be  inclined  to  any  evil  thing  : 
let  me  not  be  occupied  in  ungodly  works  with  the  men 
that  work  wickedness,  lest  I  eat  of  such  tilings  as  please 
them. 

5  Let  the  righteous  rather  smite  me  friendly  :  and 
reprove  me. 

218 


Evening  Prayer  I'SALM  CXLU  Z?(Z,i' 29 

6  But  let  not  their  precious  balius  break  uiy  head  : 
yea,  I  will  pray  yet  afi;ainst  their  wickedness. 

7  Let  their  judges  be  o\erthrown  in  stony  places  : 
that  they  may  hear  my  words,  for  tliey  are  sweet. 

8  Our  bones  lie  scattered  before  tlie  pit :  like  as  when 
one  breaketh  and  heweth  wood  upon  the  earth. 

9  But  mine  eyes  look  unto  thee,  O  Lord  God  :  in 
thee  is  my  trust,  O  cast  not  out  my  soul. 

10  Keep  me  from  the  snare  that  they  have  laid  for 
me  :  and  from  the  traps  of  the  wicked  doers. 

1 1  Let  the  ungodly  fall  into  their  own  nets  together  : 
and  let  me  ever  escape  them. 

This   lias    been    called    the  combs,  where  sweet  gums  had 

Evening  hymn  of  Early  Chris-  to  be  burnt,  as  disinfectants, 
tendom.     It  seems  to  have  been  I'erse ->,■     This  was  and  is  the 

in    daily   use    in    the    African  last  verse  of  the  last  service  of 

Church.  the    day    (Compline)    for    the 

Verses   2,    3,    and  4.       The  Benedictine  monks,  after  which 

words    used   for    censing    the  silence  is  straitly  enjoined  upon 

altar.      The   Christian   use   of  all. 
incense   dates   from  the    cata- 

I.iturgieal  use. — Introit  for  St.  Mark's  Mass  (e). 
Latins. — Friday  Vespers  ;  Maundy  Thursday. 
O'nr/^j-.— Friday  morning  ;  daily  Evensong. 


PSALM  CXLII.     Voce  mea  ad  Domhium. 

I  CRIED  unto  the  Lord  with  my  voice  :  yea,  even 
unto  the  Lord  did  I  make  mj'  supplication. 

2  I  poured  out  my  complaints  before  him  :  and 
shewed  him  of  my  trouble. 

3  When  my  spirit  was  in  heaviness  thou  knewest 
my  path  :  in  the  way  wherein  I  walked  have  they 
privily  laid  a  snare  for  me. 

4  I  looked  also  upon  mj'  right  hand  :  and  saw  there 
was  no  man  that  would  know  me. 

5  I  had  no  place  to  flee  unto  :  and  no  man  cared  for 
my  soul. 

6  I  cried  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  and  said:  "Thou  art 
my  hope,  and  my  portion  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

7  "  Consider  my  complaint  :  for  I  am  brought  very 
low. 

2ig 


Day  2g  PSALM  C'X LI  1 1  Evening  Prayer 

8  "  O  deliver  me  from  my  persecutors  :  for  they  are 
too  strong  for  me. 

9  "  Bring  my  soul  out  of  prison,  that  I  may  give 
thanks  unto  thy  Name  "  :  which  thing  if  thou  wilt  grant 
me,  then  shall  the  righteous  resort  unto  my  company. 

On    October    4,    1226    A.D. ,  the    same,    he    began    to 

St.     Francis     of    Assisi     was  die !" 

dying,   naked,   upon   the   bare  (Sont/t  English  Legendary.) 
earth. 

J'erse  9.   In  1548  the  learned 

"  At    last,  though    Death    he  Protestant     Beza      (Theodore) 

saw     and     felt     him     full  was  sick  with   a  sore  disease, 

strong,  which  his  conscience  told  him 

Voce    tned    he    began,    one  was  a  punishment  come  upon 

psalm  of  evensong ;  him     for     having     "privately 

.•^nd  said  forth  the  same  all  married"  his  wife.     He  prayed 

out,  and  held  up  his  hands  this  prayer   to   God,  and  was 

on  high,  restored.     He  then  honourably 

And   with  the  last  word  of  and  openly  married  her. 

Liturgical  use.  —  Introit  to  St.  Barnaby's  Mass  (e). 
Latins. — Friday  Vespers  ;   Maundy  Tiiursday. 
Greeks, — Friday  morning  ;  daily  Evensong. 

PSALM  CXLIII.     Boirdae,  examli. 

HEAR  my  prayer,  O  Lord,  and  consider  my  desire  : 
hearken  unto  me  for  thy  truth  and  righteous- 
ness' sake. 

2  And  enter  not  into  judgment  with  thy  servant  : 
for  in  thy  sight  shall  no  man  living  be  justified. 

3  For  the  enemy  hath  persecuted  my  soul ;  he  hath 
smitten  my  life  down  to  the  ground  :  he  hath  laid  me 
in  the  darkness,  as  the  men  that  have  been  long  dead. 

4  Therefore  is  my  spirit  vexed  within  me  :  and  my 
heart  within  me  is  desolate. 

5  Yet  do  I  remember  the  time  past ;  I  muse  upon 
all  thy  works  :  yea,  I  exercise  myself  in  the  works  of 
thy  hands. 

6  I  stretch  forth  my  hands  unto  thee  :  my  soul 
gaspeth  unto  thee  as  a  thirsty  land. 

7  Hear  me,  O  Lord,  and  that  soon,  for  my  spirit 
waxeth  faint  :  hide  not  thy  face  from  me,  lest  I  be  like 
unto  them  that  go  down  into  the  pit. 

8  O  let  me  liear  thy  loving-kindness  betimes  in  tlie 
morning,  for  in  thee  is  mv  trust  :  shew  thou  nic   thf 


\fonii,ig  Prayer  PSALM  CXLIV  Day  30 

way  that  I  .should  walk  in,  for  I  lift  up  my  soul  unto 
tlice. 

9  Deliver  me,  0  Lord,  from  mine  enemies  :  for  I  tiee 
unto  thee  to  hide  me. 

10  Teach  me  to  do  the  thing  that  pleasetli  thee,  for 
thou  art  my  God  :  let  thy  loving  Spirit  lead  me  forth 
into  the  land  of  righteousness. 

1 1  Quicken  me,  O  Lord,  for  thy  Name's  sake  :  and 
for  thy  righteousness'  sake  bring  my  soul  out  of  trouble. 

12  And  of  thy  goodness  slay  mine  enemies  :  and 
destroj'  all  them  that  vex  my  soul ;  for  I  am  thy 
servant. 

This  is  the  sevenih  peniten-  me,   O   l^ord,   that  this  seven- 

li-il     psalm     (these     are     vi.,  fold  group  of  penitential  psalms 

xxxii.,  xxxviii.,  li. ,  cii.,  cxxx. ,  may  be  a  remedy  against   the 

md    cxliii.),    and    an   antidote  sevenfold  group  of  deadly  sins, 

to   the  deadly  sin   of  Sloth  or  and  help  to  the  sevenfold  group 

Indifference.  of  the  principal  virtues,  and  the 

Charles  the  Good,  Count  of  sevenfold    group    of    spiritual 

Flanders,  was  slain  at  the  Lady  gifts,    to    the    sevenfold   beati- 

Altar,  as  he  recited  this  psalm  tudes,  and  to  the  seven   peti- 

March  2,  1127.  tions  contained  in  the  Lord's 

One  of  Gerson's  prayers  con-  Prayer"  (oii'.  1429). 
tains    this    sentence  :    "  Grant 

I.Uurgical  ttse. — Introit  for  the  Mass  on  the  Nativity  of  St. 

John  Baptist  (e)  ;  Ash  Wednesday. 
/.(7////.f.  — Friday  Lauds. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning;    Dawn;    the  late  Evensong;  and 

also  in  Lent. 


P8ALM  CXLIV.     Benedidas  Dominus. 

BLESSED  be  the  Lord  my  strength  :  who  teacheth 
my  hands  to  war,  and  my  fingers  to  fight ; 

2  ]\Iy  hope  and  my  fortress,  my  castle  and  deliverer, 
my  defender  in  whom  I  trust  :  who  subdueth  my 
people  that  is  under  me. 

3  Lord,  what  is  man,  that  thou  hast  such  respect  unto 
him  :  or  the  son  of  man,  that  thou  so  regardest  him  ? 

4  Man  is  like  a  thing  of  nought  :  his  time  passeth 
away  like  a  shadow. 

5  Bow  thy  heavens,  O  Lord,  and  come  down  :  touch 
the  mountains,  and  thev  shall  smoke. 


Dayio  PSALM  CXLIV  Morning  Prayer 

6  Cast  forth  thy  lightning,  and  tear  them :  shoot  out 
thine  arrows,  and  consume  them. 

7  Send  down  thine  hand  from  above  :  deliver  me. 
and  take  me  out  of  the  great  waters,  from  the  hand  of 
strange  children  ; 

8  Whose  mouth  talketh  of  vanity  :  and  their  right 
hand  is  a  right  hand  of  wickedness. 

9  I  will  sing  a  new  song  unto  thee,  O  God  :  and  sing 
praises  unto  thee  upon  a  ten-stringed  lute. 

10  Thou  hast  given  victory  unto  kings  :  and  hast 
delivered  David  thy  servant  frona  the  peril  of  the  sword. 

1 1  Save  me,  and  deliver  me  from  the  hand  of  strange 
children  :  whose  mouth  talketh  of  vanity,  and  their 
right  hand  is  a  light  hand  of  iniquity. 

12  Tliat  our  sons  may  grow  up  as  the  young  plants  : 
and  that  our  daughters  may  be  as  the  polished  corners 
of  the  temple. 

13  That  our  garners  may  be  full  and  plenteous  with 
all  manner  of  store  :  that  our  sheep  may  bring  forth 
thousands  and  ten  thousands  in  our  streets. 

14  That  our  oxen  may  be  strong  to  labour,  that 
there  be  no  decay  :  no  leading  into  captivity,  and  no 
complaining  in  our  streets. 

1 5  Happy  are  the  people  that  are  in  such  a  case  :  yea, 
blessed  are  the  people  who  ■  have  the  Lord  for  their 
God. 

Benedict  us    Dominvs    Dens  est  semblable  a  la  vanitt? :  ses 

mens.  A  not  uncommon  sword-  jours  sont  comme  line  ombre 

motto,   alluding   to   the  whole  qui  passe." 

psalm,  which  is  one  of  the  war  Verse  7.  This  was  the  text  of 

psalms.       St.    Bernard     made  courteous   Bishop  Bedell's  last 

much     use     of    it,    when     he  sermon.       He    had    just   been 

preached  the  Crusades.  released  from  captivity  by  the 

I'erse  3.   Richard  Ba.xter  on  Irish  rebels  of  1641.     He  trans- 

his    death  -  bed    admired    the  lated    our     Prayer-book    into 

Divine    condescension    to    us,  Italian,   and  had  it  translated 

often  saying:  "Lord,  what  is  into   Irish.      He   was  a   great 

man?    What  am  I,  vile  worm,  reformer  of  the   Irish  Church, 

to  the  Great  God  ?"  and  that  not  only  in  his  see  of 

/  'erse  4.  The  dial  motto  of  St.  Kilmore. 
Brelade,  Jersey,  is  "  L'homme  ^ 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  .St.  Peter's  Mass  (e). 
Latins. — -Saturday  \'espers. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning. 

222 


Morning  Prayer  I'SALM  CXL\'  Day  30 

PSALM  CXL\'.     Exaltaho  fe,  Deus. 

I  WILL  magnify  thee,  O  God,  my  King  :  and  I  will 
praise  thy  Name  for  ever  and  ever. 

2  Every  day  will    I   give   thanks   unto   thee  :  and 
praise  thy  Name  for  ever  and  ever. 

3  Great  is  the  Lord,  and  marvellous,  worthy  to  be 
praised  :  there  is  no  end  of  his  greatness. 

4  One  generation  shall  praise  thj-  works  unto  another  : 
and  declare  thy  power. 

5  As  for  me,  I  will  be  talking  of  thy  worship  :  thy 
glory,  thy  praise,  and  wondrous  works. 

6  So  that  men  shall  speak  of  the  might  of  thy  mar- 
vellous acts  :  and  I  will  also  tell  of  thy  greatness. 

7  The  memorial  of  thine  abundant  kindness  shall  be 
shewed  :  and  men  shall  sing  of  thy  righteousness. 

8  The  Lord  is  gracious,  and  merciful  :  long-suffering, 
and  of  great  goodness. 

9  The  Lord  is  loving  unto  every  man  :  and  his  merc\' 
is  over  all  his  works. 

10  All   thy   works  praise   thee,   O   Lord  :  and   thy 
samts  give  thanks  unto  thee. 

1 1  They  shew  the  glory  of  thy  kingdom  :  and  talk 
of  thy  power ; 

1 2  That  th^■  power,  thy  glory,  and  mightiness  of  thy 
kingdom  :  might  be  known  unto  men. 

13  Thy  kingdom  is  an  everlasting  kingdom  :  and  thy 
dominion  endureth  throughout  all  ages. 

14  The  Lord  upholdeth  all  such  as  fall  :  and  lifteth 
up  all  those  that  are  down. 

15  The  eyes  of  all  wait  upon  thee,  O  Lord  :  and 
thou  givest  them  their  meat  in  due  season. 

16  Thou  openest  thine  hand  :  and  fillest  all  things 
living  with  plenteousness. 

17  The  Lord  is  righteous  in  all  his  ways  :  and  holy 
in  all  his  works. 

18  The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  all  them  that  call  upon 
him  :  yea.  all  such  as  call  upon  him  faithfully. 

19  He  will  fulfil  the  desire  of  them  that  fear  him  : 
lie  also  will  hear  their  cry,  and  will  help  them. 

20  The  Lord  preserveth  all  them  that  love  him  :  but 
scattereth  abroad  all  the  ungodlv. 


Daj' so  PSALM  CXLVI  Morning  Prayer 

21  My  mouth  shall  speak  the  praise  of  the  Lord  : 
and  let  all  flesh  give  thanks  unto  his  holy  Name  for 
ever  and  ever. 

This  psalm  must  have  been  Still  overcoming  evil,  and  by 

in  Milton's  mind  when  he  wrote  small 

the  last  speech  of  Adam,   the  Accomplishing  great  things, 

exile,  in  "  Paradise  Lost"  :  by  things  deemed  weak 

Subverting    worldly    strong, 

"Henceforth   I  learn,   that   to  and  worldly  wise 

obey  is  best.  By  simply  meek  ;  that  suffer- 

And  love  with  fear  the  only  ing  for  iruiii's  sake 

God,  to  walk  Is  fortitude  to  highest  victory, 

As  in   His  presence,  ever  to  And  to  the  faithful  Death  the 

observe  Gate  of  Life  : 

His  providence  and  on  Him  Taught  this  by  His  example, 

sole  depend,  whom  I  now 

Merciful  over  all  His  works.  Acknowledge   my  Redeemer 

with  good  ever  blest." 

Liturgical  use. — Whit-Sunday  evening. 
Latins. — Saturday  at  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning. 


PSALM  CXLVL     Lauda,  anima  mea. 

PKAISE  the  Lord,  O  my  soul ;  while  I  live,  will  I 
praise  the  Lord  :  yea,  as  long  as  I  have  any  being, 
I  will  sing  praises  unto  my  God. 

2  O  put  not  your  trust  in  princes,  nor  in  any  child 
of  man  :  for  there  is  no  help  in  them. 

3  For  when  the  breath  of  man  goeth  forth  he  shall 
turn  again  to  his  earth  :  and  then  all  his  thoughts 
perish. 

4  Blessed  is  he  that  hath  the  God  of  Jacob  for  his 
help  :  and  whose  hope  is  in  the  Lord  his  God  ; 

5  Who  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea,  and  all  that 
therein  is  :  who  keepeth  his  promise  for  ever  ; 

6  Who  helpeth  them  to  right  that  suffer  wrong  : 
who  feedeth  the  hungrj-. 

7  The  Lord  looseth  men  out  of  prison  :  the  Lord 
giveth  sight  to  the  blind. 

8  The  Lord  helpeth  them  that  are  fallen  :  the  Lord 
careth  for  tlie  righteous. 

9  The  Lord  careth  for  the  strangers ;  he  defendeth 

224 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  CXLVII  Day  2.0 

the   fatherless   and   widow  :  as   for   the   way   of   the 
ungodly,  he  turneth  it  upside  down. 

10  The  Lord  thy   God,  O  Sion,  shall  be   King  for 
evermore  :  and  tlirougliout  all  generations. 

A  dirge  psalm  (see  Ps.  v.).  Verse  2.    Aptly   quoted    by 

In  1621  the  Protestant  leader,  Strafford,  when  he  heard  that 

Andrew  Willet,  of  Cambridge  his  master.    King   Charles    I., 

and  Ely,  was  thrown  from  his  had  thrown  him  to  the  wolves, 

horse  and  broke  his  leg.     He  by    signing    the    Bill    of    At- 

was  carried   to  a  bone-setter's  tainder. 

and  had  it  attended  to.     When  Verse  7.    The  motto  of   the 

it  was  set  he  leaned  on  his  staft"  Trinitarian   friars  of   Motting- 

and  repeated  "  this  most  sweet  den,  Kent,  who  raised  money 

psalm,"  dwelling  especially  on  to   ransom    Christian    captives 

the  eighth  verse  ;  then  suddenly  from  the  Saracens, 
fainted  away  and  died. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  St.  Mary  Magdalen's  Mass  (e). 
Latins. — Saturday  Vespers. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning. 


PSALM  CXLVII.     Laudate  Duminum. 

0  PRAISE  the  Lord,  for  it  is  a  good  thing  to  sing 
praises  unto  our  God  :  yea,  a  joyful  and  pleasant 
thing  it  is  to  be  thankful. 

2  The  Lord  doth  build  up  Jerusalem  :  and  gather 
together  the  out-casts  of  Israel. 

3  He  healeth  those  that  are  broken  in  heart  :  and 
giveth  medicine  to  heal  their  sickness. 

4  He  telleth  the  number  of  the  stars  :  and  calleth 
them  all  by  their  names. 

5  Great  is  our  Lord,  and  great  is  his  power  :  jea, 
and  his  wisdom  is  infinite. 

6  Tlie  Lord  settetli  up  the  meek  :  and  briiigeth  the 
ungodly  down  to  the  ground. 

7  0  sing  unto  the  Lord  with  thanksgiving  :  sing 
praises  upon  the  harp  unto  our  God  ; 

8  Who  covereth  the  heaven  witli  clouds,  and  pre- 
pareth  rain  for  the  earth  :  and  maketh  the  grass  to 
grow  upon  the  mountains,  and  herb  for  the  use  of 
men ; 

9  Who  giveth  fodder  unto  the  cattle  :  and  feedeth 
the  young  ravens  that  call  upon  him. 

225  Q 


Day  10  PSALM  CXLVIII  Evening  Prayer 

10  He  liath  no  pleasure  in  the  strength  of  an  horse  : 
neither  dehghteth  he  in  any  man's  legs. 

1 1  But  the  Lord's  delight  is  in  them  that  fear  him  : 
and  put  their  trust  in  his  mercy. 

12  Praise  the  Lord,  O  Jerusalem  :  praise  thy  God, 
0  Sion. 

13  For  he  hath  made  fast  the  bars  of  thy  gates  : 
and  hath  blessed  thy  children  within  thee. 

14  He  niaketh  peace  in  thy  borders  :  and  filleth  thee 
with  the  Hour  of  wheat. 

15  He  sendeth  forth  his  commandment  upon  earth  : 
and  his  word  runneth  very  swiftly. 

16  He  giveth  snow  like  wool  :  and  scattereth  the 
hoar-frost  like  ashes. 

17  He  casteth  forth  his  ice  like  morsels  :  who  is 
able  to  abide  his  frost  ? 

18  He  sendeth  out  his  word,  and  melteth  them  :  he 
bloweth  with  his  wind,  and  the  waters  flow. 

19  He  shewed  his  word  unto  Jacob  :  his  statutes 
and  ordinances  unto  Israel. 

20  He  hath  not  dealt  so  with  anj-  nation  :  neither 
have  the  heathen  knowledge  of  his  laws. 

Verse  4.    A  favourite  verse  of  pines,    and    we    may    perhaps 

Sir 'I  homas  Browne,  the  author  know    the    meaning    of    those 

of  "  Religio  Medici."  quiet  words  of  the  147th  Psahn, 

Vcne  8.     "  Look  up  to  the  '  He  maki.th  the  giass  to  grow 

higher  hihs,  where  the  waves  of  upon    the   mountains'"    (Rhs- 

green  roll  silently  into  long  in-  kin). 
lets  among  the  shadow  of  the 

Latins. — Saturday  at  Vespers  ;  Dedication  of  a  Church  (verses 

12-20)  ;  Feasts  of  Our  Lady. 
Greeks. — Friday  morning. 

PSALM  CXLVIII.     Lamlab'  Dominvm. 

0  PRAISE  the  Lord  of  lieaven  :  praise  him  in  the 
height. 

2  Praise  him,  all  ye  angels  of  his  :  praise  him,  all 
his  host. 

3  Praise  him,  sun  and  moon  :  praise  him,  all  ye 
stars  and  li,ulit. 

4  Praise  him,  all  ye  heavens  :  and  ye  waters  that 
are  above  the  heavens. 

226 


Evening  Prayer  PSALM  CXLVHI  Day  zo 

5  Let  them  praise  the  Name  of  the  Lord  :  for  he 
spiike  the  word,  and  they  were  made ;  he  coiiunanded, 
and  they  were  created. 

6  He  hath  made  them  fast  for  ever  and  ever  :  he 
hath  given  them  a  kiw  which  shall  not  be  broken. 

7  Praise  the  Lord  upon  earth  :  ye  dragons,  and  all 
deeps ; 

8  Fire  and  hail,  snow  and  vapours  :  wind  and  storm, 
fulfilling  his  word  ; 

9  ^Mountains  and  all  hills  :  fruitful  trees  and  all 
cedars. 

10  Beasts  and  all  cattle  :  worms  and  feathered  fowls  ; 

1 1  Kings  of  the  earth  and  all  people  :  princes  and 
all  judges  of  the  world  ; 

1 2  Young  men  and  maidens,  old  men  and  children, 
praise  the  Name  of  the  Lord  :  for  his  Name  only  is 
excellent,  and  his  praise  above  heaven  and  earth. 

13  He  shall  exalt  the  horn  of  his  people  ;  all  his 
saints  shall  praise  him  :  even  the  children  of  Israel, 
even  the  people  that  serveth  him. 

Perhaps  St.  Francis  derived  Ferj^ 2.  The  "Angel  Psalms" 

his  hymn  of  all  creatures  from  are  viii.,  xxxiv. ,  xxxv. ,  Ixviii., 

this  psalm.     In  it  he  calls  all  Ixxviii.,  xci.,  ciii.,  civ.,  and  this 

creation  to  bless  God  (propter  one.     The   Angelicals   are   di- 

lionombilem  fratrcm    nos!nim  vided    into    three    choirs    and 

w/e/«)  for  our  noble  brother  the  nine  orders.     The  Contempla- 

Sun,  etc.  live  Choir  is  made  up  of  Sera- 

I'l-rses  X  arid 2.  St.  Bernard's  phim,  wlio  behold  ;  Cherubim, 
brother  Gerard  died  with  these  who  veil  with  wings  ;  and 
words  of  triumph.  "At  that  Thrones,  who  upbear  God  in 
moment,  my  brother,  day  his  glory.  The  Middle  Choir 
dawned  on  thee,  though  it  was  consists  of  Dominations,  who 
night  for  us.  Just  as  I  reached  order  the  stars;  Virtues,  who 
his  side  I  heard  him  utter  aloud  uphold  qualities  ;  and  Powers, 
those  words  of  Christ,  Pater  in  who  hold  evil  spirits  in  leashes. 
vianfis  tuas.  Then  repeating  Below  these  are  Principalities, 
the  verse  over  again,  and  rest-  who  keep  us  human  ;  Arch- 
ing on  the  word  '  Father  !  angels,  who  guard  our  nation- 
Father  !'  he  turned  to  me  and,  ality  and  our  Church  ;  and 
smiling,  said,  '  O  how  gracious  Angels,  who  maintain  our  in- 
of  God  to  be  the  Fatiier  of  dividuality,  and  set  our  soul's 
men,  and  what  an  honour  for  food  before  us,  and  bring  us  at 
men  to  be  His  children  1'  "  last  to  the  judgement. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  St.  James's  Mass  (e). 

Latins. — Daily  at  Lauds  ;  at  burial  of  children,  on  the  way  to 
Church  and  to  the  grave. 

Greeks. — Friday  morning  ;  Dawn  ;  burial  of  priests. 

227 


Day  iQ  PSALM  CXLIX  Evening  Prayer 


PSALM  CXLIX.     Caniate  Domino. 

OSING  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song  :  let  the  con- 
gregation of  saints  praise  him. 

2  Let  Israel  rejoice  in  him  tliat  made  him  :  and  let 
the  children  of  Sion  be  joyful  in  their  King. 

3  Let  tliem  praise  his  name  in  the  dance  :  let  them 
sing  praises  unto  him  with  tabret  and  harp. 

4  For  the  Lord  hath  pleasure  in  his  people  :  and 
helpeth  the  meek-hearted. 

5  Let  the   saints  be  joyful  with   glory  :  let   them 
rejoice  in  their  beds. 

6  Let  the  praises  of  God  be  in  their  mouth  :  and  a 
two-edged  sword  in  their  hands ; 

7  To  be  avenged  of  tlie  heathen  :  and  to  rebvike  tlie 
people  ; 

8  To  bind  their  kings  in  chains  :  and  their  nobles 
with  links  of  iron. 

9  That   tliey  may   be   avenged   of    them,    as   it   is 
written  :  such  honour  have  all  his  saints. 

This  war  psalm  was  used  by  If  this  were  mere  superstition, 

Caspar  Sciopius   to   rouse  the  at  least  it  was  not  as  harmful 

Romanist  Princes  to  the  thirty  as  the  superstitious  use  made 

years'  war,  as  it  had  been  by  of  this  psalm  by  the    fanatics 

Thomas  Munzer  to  rouse  the  of  the  xvi.  and  xvii.  centuries, 
peasants  in  the  great  German  J'erse-,.   This  verse  suggested 

Jacquerie,    wiiich    followed    in  to    Richard    Baxter   and    Mar- 

the  wake  of  the  Reformation.  garet,  his  wife,  their  habit  of 

Verses  5  a /id  6.     A  curious  singing  psalms  in  bed  the  last 

use   of  these   verses,   and    the  thing  at  night  and  the  first  in 

next  psalm,  is  given  by  Alex-  the  morning.     They  probably 

ander     Neckan,    a     mediaeval  used  Baxter's  own  "far  from 

medical    writer.      They   are   a  contemptible  version  "  ;  but  at 

charm  against  the  flying  and  the  last   were    driven    out    of   the 

travelling  evil,  or,  as  we  should  practice  by  the  derision  of  the 

say,  contagion  and  epidemics,  neighbouring  wags. 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  for  Hallowmas  (e). 

Latins. — Daily   at    Lauds;  burial   of  children,    between    the 

house  and  Church,  and  the  Church  and  grave. 
Greeks.  —  Friday  morning  ;  Dawn  ;  burial  of  prii;sts. 


228 


Evening  Prayer 


PSALM  CL 


Day  30 


PSALM  CL.     Lawlatc  Doiainum. 

0  PRAISE  God  in  his  holiness  :  praise  him  in  the 
firmament  of  his  power. 

2  Praise  him  in  his  noble  acts  :  praise  him  according 
to  his  excellent  greatness. 

3  Praise  him  in  the  sound  of  the  trumpet  :  praise 
him  upon  the  lute  and  harp. 

4  Praise  him  in  the  cj-mbals  and  dances  :  praise  him 
upon  the  strings  and  pipe. 

5  Praise  him  upon  the  well-tuned  cymbals  :  praise 
him  upon  the  loud  C3'mbals. 

6  Let  every  thing  that  hath  breath  :  praise  the  Lord. 
It  is    thanks    to   this   psalm     fore  the  altar  in  the  Cathedral  in 


above  others  that  the  use  of 
instrumental  music  has  been 
continuously  preserved  in  the 
Church,  although  some  of  the 
severer  Fathers  looked  upon  it 
with  distrust.  It  is  one  of  the 
psalms  in  which  not  only 
Christian  musicians,  but  artists 
of  all  sorts,  delight.  Fra 
Angelico,  for  instance,  so  often 
refers  to  it  that  we  may  call  it 
his  favourite  psalm.  His  well- 
known  Angels  of  the  Taber- 
nacle, the  dances  of  the  blessed, 
in  the  "  Day  of  Judgment,"  .md 
the  musical  instruments  in  the 
Uffizzi  Madonna,  are  instances. 
Orcagna's  "  Day  of  Judgment," 
Raphael's  "St.  Cecilia,"  and 
countless  other  pictures,  illus- 
trate the  same.     To  this  dav  in 


direct  reference  to  t'«'j^ 4.  The 
word  "  pipe"  in  the  same  verse  is 
in  the  Latin  and  Greek  versions 
"organ,  "and  the  organ  was  used 
even  in  the  Catacomb  services, 
and  in  St.  Augustine's  time, 
though  perhaps  not  North  of 
the  Alps  till  the  eighth  century. 

Clement  of  Alexandria  once 
tried  to  explain  away  this 
psalm  into  an  allegory  of  the 
human  body  :  the  tongue  being 
the  lute,  the  face  the  harp,  the 
lips  cymbals,  and  so  on.  He 
could  not  bear  to  think  of  the 
Church  using  what  had  excited 
the  heathen  to  lust  or  war. 

yerse  6.  Oninis  spiritus 
latidet  Dorninum  is  the  sundial 
motto  of  Great  Smeaton 
Church,  Yorks. 


Seville  ten  little  boys  dance  be- 

Liturgical  use. — Introit  to  the  Mass  for  SS.  Simon  and  Jude 

(e). 
Z^<7//«j.  — Daily  at  Lauds  ;  burial  of  children,  on  the  road  to 

Church,  and  from  Church  to  the  grave. 
Greeks. — Friday  evening  ;  late  Evensong  ;  burial  of  priests. 


iiOixxs  ®eo. 
229 


I  N  DEX 


The  numbers  refer  to  the  Psalms. 


Abolitionists,  io 

Abraham,  89 

Adam,  92 

Addison,  19,  23,  139 

Adhelm,  68 

Agincourt,  114 

St.  Agnes,  no 

Albertus  Magnus,  28,  58 

Alfred,  72 

St.  Ambrose,  6.  7,  43,  44,  64, 

78,  119  (p.  184) 
Anastasius  IV.,  17 
Andrewes,  82,  85 
Angelo,  148 
Angelico,  Fra,  150 
St.  Anno,  112 
St.  Anselm,  27,  53 
St.  Anthony,  9,  20,  68 
St.    Thomas   Aquinas,   53,  59, 

84,  I02,  132 
Argyle,  74 

Arians,  45,  48,  119  (p.  196) 
Armada,  3,  76 
Arnold,  M.,  49,  77 
Arnold,  T. ,  51 
Arthur,  King,  31 
Arundel,  Lady,  46 
Ascension    psalms,    8,    11,    15, 

19,  21,  24,  30,  47,  93,  97.  99, 

103   ic8,  117 
Ash  Wednesday:  see  "  Penilen- 

tial" 
Askc,  R.,  74 


Asperges,  51 

St.  Athanasius,  2,  5,  45,  62,  79, 

89,  104,  116,  126 
St.  Augustine  H.,  4,  12,  32,  33, 

79,87,  loi,  119  (pp.  185,  194) 
St.  Augustine  C. ,  84 

St.  Babylas,  96 

Bacon,  14,  loi,  104,  120 

Baker,  H.,  23 

Baldwin,  118 

Balsamus,  27,  115 

St.  Basil,  the  Great,  15,  31 

Bauhinus,  104 

Baxter,  2,  91,  144,  149 

Beauchamp,  16 

Bede,  24,  42,  113 

Bedell,  144 

Bell,  115 

St.  Benedict  A.,  37 

St.  Benedict  Bis. ,  83 

Berkeley,  8 

St.    Bernard,   12,    13,   51,    107, 

116,  118,  128 
De  BeruUe,  9 
Beza,  64,  T42 
Blackmore,  64 
Black  Prince,  7,  28,  121 
Blake,  85 

St.  Bonaventura,  17,  76 
St.  Boniface,  6,  69 
Bosanquet,  M.,  27 
Boy-bishop,  91 


231 


INDEX 


Brian,  51 

Bristol,  Ld.,  137 

Browne,  T. ,  2,  147 

Browning,  E.  B. ,  127 

Browning,  R.,  39,  55,  68 

Bunyan,  119  (p.  186) 

Burial  psalms,  23,  24,  39,  51, 
84,  90,  91,  113,  116,  119,  130, 
139,  146,  148,  149,  150 

Burleigh,  Ld.,  55 

Burnet,  22 

Burns,  90 

Burton,  R. ,  i,  119  (p.  195) 

Butchers'  Company,  8 

Buxton,  126 

Byrom,  23 

Byzantine  wars,  20 

Caird,  53 

Calmet,  64 

Calvin,  6,  13,  39 

Calvinists,  97 

Campion,  31 

Canterbury,  St.  Thomas  of,  37, 

119  (p.  183) 
Capgrave,  7,  45.  5^ 
Caravans,  119,  (p.  i8i) 
Carlyle,  J.,  6 
Carlyle,   Th.,  21,  72,  84 
Carn ovale,  Fra,  91 
Catherine  de  Mt;dici,  6 
Cealchythe,  15 
St.  Chad,  18 
Chalice  motto,  116 
Ciiarlemagne,    4,    26,    68,    119 

(p.  189),  139 
Charles  the  Bad,  11 
Charles  I.,  9,  52,  56,  83 
Charles  V.,  90,  102,  118 
Charles  VIII.,  65 
Chaucer,  81,  119  (p.  192) 
C^hrist,  82,  no,  118 
Christmas  psalms,  2,  8,  19,  45, 

48,   72,  85,  89,  96,  98,   no, 

in,  112,  113,  117,  132 
St.  Chrysostom,  24,  61,  62,  n6 
Circumcision,  12 
Clement  Alex.,  150 
Cloveshoo,  I 
Clovis,  18,  29 
Coenobite^,  55 


Colet,  51 

St.  Coluniba,  34,  45,  78,  84 

Columbus,  19,  31 

Commendation,  12,  118,  119 
(p.  182) 

Commentators,  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, 105 

Composite  psalm,  71 

Constantine,  82 

Contrition,  51 

Corbilla,  138 

Cosin,  90 

Cottam,  71 

Coutras,  118 

Coverdale,  119  (p.  191) 

Covvper,  Bp. ,  119  (p.  198) 

Cowper,  W. ,  loi,  118 

Cranmer,  44,  51 

Crashaw,  137 

St.  Crispin,  79 

Cromwell,  68,  117 

Cuthbert,  60 

St.  Cyprian,  6 

.St.  Cyril,  132 

Dante,  9,  51,  92,  114 

Darnley,  55 

David,  140 

De  Civitate  Dei,  87 

Defensor,  Bp.,  8 

Descartes,  53 

Dial    mottoes,  74,   80,  8g,  90, 

102,  n3,  n9  (p.  197),  150 
Didymus,  88 

Dies  Inc,  19,  97,  102,  no 
Digby,  E.,  of  Bristol,  137 
Dionysius.  Ar. ,  24 
Dirge,  5,  27,  30,  41,  42,  71,  116, 

146 
Dod,  131 
Donatists,  26 
Drumclog,  76 
Dunbar,  68,  117 
Duns  Scoius,  53 
Dunstan,  51,  68,  in 
Diirer,  90 

Durham  University,  i>j 
Duty,  119  (p.  181) 

Easter  psalms,  2,  57,  62,  in, 
112, 113,  114,  117,  118 


232 


INDEX 


Easter  text,  no 

St.  Edmund,  72 

Edward  HI.,  6,  52,  112 

Edward  VI.,  119  (p.  191),  132 

Elfric,  25,  26,  51 

St.  Eligius,  119  (p.  192) 

Eliot,  G.,  85 

Elizabeth,  14,  90,  118 

Elohists,  53 

St.  Elphege,  3 

England,  125 

St.  Epi]5hanius,  31 

Epiphany,   29,   46,  47,  66,  72, 

86,  87,  95,  96,  97 
Erasmus,  i,  15,  119  (p.  193) 
Essex,  55 
Ethelbert,  29 
Evelyn,  14 

Fabricius,  12 

Fifth  Monarchy,  7 

Filbie,  51 

Fisher,  6,  34,  71,  116 

Fletcher,  Ph.,  130 

Forrest,  62 

Fortunatus,  96 

Fox,  106 

Francis  I.,  119  (p.  188) 

St.  Francis  S.,  40 

St.  Francis  A.,  23,  142,  148 

Franklin,  107 

Fuller,  T. ,  8,  37,  52,  109 

Gandia,  Duke,  114,  124 

Ganging,  103,  104 

Gardiner,  Allen,  17,  139 

Gaudfridus,  106 

Gentleman,  15 

Gerard,  148 

Gerson,  143 

Giraldus,  C,  55 

Gladstone,  Mr. ,  98, 119  (p.  196) 

Gnostics,  140 

Good  Friday,  2,  22,  27,  38,  40, 

54.  59.  69,  88,  94 
St.  Gordius,  118 
St.  Gorgonia,  4 
Gradual,  120-134 
Gregory  Dec,  13 
St.  Gregory  Gt.,  r,  33,  69,  72 
St.  Gregory  N.,  4,  49 


Grote,  112 
Guardian,  40 
Gunpowder  plot,  64,  123 

Habington,  19 

Hacket,  24,  41,  132 

Hall,  J.,  60,  79 

Hallel,  113-118,  135 

Hampton,  C.  C,  106 

Handel,  24 

Hare,  17 
I  Harrington,  7,  38 

"  Harrowing  of  Hell,"  24,  107 
i  Hart,  the,  42 

Hart,  123 

Hatton,  92,  108 
I  Heine,  23 
j  Helmore,  47 

Henry  II.,  6 

Henry  III.,  85 
'  Henry  V.,  51,  114 

Henry  VI.,  122 

Henry  VII.,  43 

Heraldry,  127 

Herbert,  G.,  i,  11,  23.  29,  31, 

38,71 
St.  Hilarion,  20 
Hildebrand,  45 
Hobbs,  Ab.,  79 
Holdsworth,  119  (p.  195) 
Holland,  64 
Hooker,  35,  55 
Hooper,  77,  88,  121 
Home,  106 

Hours,  119,  (pp.  187,  197) 
House  motto,  127 
Howard,  P.,  8 

St.  Hugh,  10,  58,  68, 119  (p.  184) 
Humboldt,  19,  104 
"  Hundredth,  Old,"  100 
Hunnis,  6,  102 
Huss,  31 

Incense,  141 
Innocent  VIII.,  26 
Invitatory,  95 
I^cariot,  41 
St.  Isidore,  39 

Jackson,  T. ,  116 
James  I.,  68,  83 


"-11 


INDEX 


Japan,  113,  114 
St.  Jerome,  i,  17,  55 
Jerusalem,  Siege  of,  2 
Jewel,  71 
Jewish  lament,  79 
Jocelyn,  84 
St.  John  Baptist,  132 
John  VIII.,  67 
St.  John  Evangelist,  69 
Johnson,  R. ,  51 
Johnson,  S.,  Dr.,  119  (p.  1S9) 
fulian  Ap.,  68,  96,  115 
Justinianus,  19 
Justin  Martyr,  96 

Keble,  39,  51,  86 
Ken,  8 
Kethe,  100 
King,  H.,  80 
Kingsley,  76 
King's  psalm,  20 
King's  evil,  102 
Kirkman,  120 
Kirkpatrick,  Pro.,  140 
Knox,  31,  51,  103 
Kyrie,  51 

Lamb,  i 

Laud,  9,  21,  90 

La7ts  peretinis,  138 

Lawrence,  Lady,  27 

Lazarus,  94 

Leicester,  jTi 

Leighton,  39 

Le  Long,  64 

Lightfoot,  78 

Lincoln  Coll.,  80 

Lincoln,  Pres.,  11 

Livingstone,  37,  121 

Locke,  J.,  135 

Lok,  49 

Longfellow,  100 

St.  Louis,  25,  32 

Luther,    2,    31,    46,    ico,    119 

(p.  190) 
1.7IX  M  unci  I,  no 
Luxorius,  86,  119  (p.  183) 
Lyte,  84 

McCheyne,  124 
Magic,  50 


Maine,  C. ,  31 

Manoel,  37 

Margaret  of  Scotland,  i 

Margaret  of  Richmond,  6 

Marriage  psalms,  67,  128 

Marseilles,  Bp.  of,  91 

St.  Martin,  8,  118 

Martyn,  H.,  118,  119  (p.  191) 

Martyrs,  115 

Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  8,  19,  24, 

45,    46,  87,  96,  97,  98,  no, 

113,  122,  127,  131,  147 
Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  18,  71, 

130 
Maiheson,  92 
Matilda,  92 
Maundy  Thursday,  69,  70,  71, 

72,  73.  74.  75.  76,  77~    "6, 

120,  140,  141,  142 
St.  Maur,  42 

Maurice,  Emp. ,  119  (p.  194) 
Maxwell,  119  (p.  185) 
Medley,  Bp. ,  119  (p.  196) 
Melchizedek,  no 
Merks,  105 
Methodius,  67 
Midnight   hour,  119  (pp.   187, 

197) 
Midwife's  psalm,  139 
Milman,  25 

Milton,  19,  114,  136,  145 
Molinos,  18 
Monica,  loi 

Monkish  vows  forbidden,  54 
Montanists,  26 
More,  T.,  51 
Morley,  Ld.,  94 
Moses,  100 
Munzer,  149 
Musical  psalms,  30 
Mutiny,  Indian,  79 
Mysteries,  Coventry,  125 
Mystics,  18 

Xaseby,  47 
Neale,  96 
Neckan,  149 
Necromancy,  50 
Nelson,  ]n.,  31,  130 
Newman,  90,  104,  112 
Newton,  21 


234 


INDEX 


Xicene  Creed,  36 
Nicholas  III.,  57 
Nicholson,  Bp. ,  70 
Norris,  Jn. ,  18 
Northernmost  grave,  51 
Notker,  22 

Observer,  139 
Oldcasile,  94 
Oratorians,  9 
Organ,  150 

Origen,  50,  65,  So,  102 
Oswald,  Hp.,  16,  134 
Oxford  University,  27 

St.  Pambo,  39 

Paris,  M.,  92 

Parker,  Arch.,  47 

Pascal,  119  (p.  187) 

Paula,  84 

Pauline  psalms,  32 

Pelican,  102 

Penitential   psalms,  6,  32, 

51,  102,  130,  143 
Philostratus,  140 
Piano,  33 

Pico  della  Mirandola,  i(j,  2 
Pierson,  87 
Piers  Ploughman,   32,  36, 

112,  128 
Pilgrimage  of  Grace,  74 
Pius  v.,  119  (p.  182) 
St.  Polycarp,  31 
St.  Pontius,  115 
Pope,  Alex.,  18,  64 
Porphyrius,  52,  78 
Prime,  A. -S.,  71,  80,  85,  88 
Publia,  68,  115 
Pygot,  106 

Raleigh.  W.,  75 
Restoration,  124 
Reynolds,  Dr.,  105,  106 
Reynolds,  R.,  27 
Richard  1.,  22,  127 
St.  Richard,  122 
Richard  de  Bury,  116 
Romaine,  107 
Rood,  129 
Rossetti,  Miss,  T21 
Rudd,  90 


38. 


Ruskin,  iq,  23,  36,  147 
Russell,  W.,  42 

Salniond,  142 

.Sancroft,  32 

Sandys,  80 

Saunderson,  R.,  57,  103 

Savonarola,  2,  51,  66,  68 

Sciopius,  C. ,  149 

Scott,  G. ,  122 

Scott,  W. ,  16,  114,  137 

Sccreia,  43 

Shakespeare,  18,  19,22,89,93, 

100 
Shallow,  89 
Sidney,  P.,  10 
Small  books,  40 
Smart,  C. ,  133 
Smart,  P.,  31 
Smith,  R. ,  140 
Socrates  S.,  39 
Sparkes,  Dr.,  105 
Spenser,  37,  91 
Stanley,    A.,    78,  112,    119  (p. 

190),  122 
Strafford,  25,  146 
Strathniore,  31 
Sundial  :  see  ''  Dial  " 
Supremacy,  Papal,  105 
Swedenborg,  74 
Sword  motto,  144 
Syllogism,  false,  66 

Tait,  17 
Talmud,  100 
Tasso,  31 

Tate  and  Brady,  10,  34 
Taylor,  J.,  126 
Taylor,  R. ,  51 
Templars,  95 
Tennyson,  86 
Thackeray,  37,  126 
Theodolf,  51 

St.  Theodore,  119  (p.  190) 
St.  Theodore  Mop.,  18,  79 
St.  Theodore  M.,  34 
Theodoret,  78 
Theodosius,  119  (p.  183) 
St.  Thomas  a  Kempis,  85 
St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury,  2,7 1 
119  (p.  183) 


'J3 


INDEX 


Thomson,  19 
De  Thou,  116,  118 
Thring,  78 
Thurkeld,  118 
Titian,  120 
Torqueinada,  35 
Traveller's  psalm,  121 
Trench,  86 
Trinitarian  friars,  146 
Trinity  psalms,   8,   19,   24,  47, 
48,  67,  72,  96,  97,  98 

Utrecht  Psalter,  106 

Vane,  Sir  H.,  7 
Van  Mildert,  87 
Vaughan,  H.,  61;,  104,  121 
Verney,  E. ,  105 
Vicars,  64,  123 
St.  Vincent  de  P.,  137 
Vincentius  L. ,  46 
Viiidicatio,  59 

Vindictive  psalms,  59,  69,    79, 
109 


Visconti,  B. ,  51 
Visitation  of  Sick,  6,  23,  27,  32, 
51,  55,  61,  71,  102 

Waddell,  10 

Wallace,  119  (p.  182) 

Walton,  I.,  2,  32,  120 

Watts,  90 

Wesley,  C,  72 

Wesley,  J.,  38 

White,  K.,  18 

Whitfield,  118 

Whitgift,  105 

Whitsuntide,    33,  48,   68,   100, 

loi,  104,  117,  145 
Wilberforce,  119  (p.  182) 
Wilfred  of  York,  104 
Willet,  A.,  146 
Wither,  119  (p.  193) 
Wolsey,  W. ,  106 
Wordsworth,  19,  88,  113 

Xavier,  31,  114 
Ximenes,  115 


THt;   F.ND. 


Elliot  Stock,  Paternoster  Row,  London. 


